Hyderabad: The talks between the Congress and the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) over seat adjustments have still not been finalised, with just three days left for the filing of nominations to close on November 19. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, soon after returning from Delhi, held talks with TJS chief Prof. M. Kodandaram regarding sharing of seats.
There is no clarity on the total number of seats to be contested by the new party. The Congress had announced that the TJS would contest from eight seats. In the meeting that took place on Friday evening, Prof. Kodandaram demanded 12 seats, to which Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy did not agree.
With no decision in sight, Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy ended the meeting. They will meet again later on Friday night after AICC secretary and TS Congress affairs incharge R.C. Khuntia returns from Delhi.
Sources said the meeting between Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Prof. Kodandaram that took place in Delhi on Thursday night had not ended on a positive note. The AICC president had asked the TJS to leave the Jangaon seat, from where former PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah wants to contest.
The Congress had earlier thought of sacrificing the Jangaon seat and later withdrew the decision as it did not want Mr Lakshmaiah to drop out. However, Prof. Kodandaram did not oblige the Congress, and it is expected that there may be a ‘friendly contest’ among the allies.
There were also rumours about certain demands made by senior Congress leader K. Jana Reddy. The former Opposition leader is alleged to have demanded the TJS to leave the Miryalguda for his relative. The followers of Mr Vidyadhara Reddy, who is expecting the ticket, expressed their dissatisfaction about the involvement of the Congress leaders in TJS affairs.
