Congress reworking strategy over talk of simultaneous assembly, LS polls
Adilabad: The Congress in Telangana is reworking its strategy with talk of Telangana Assembly and Lok Sabha elections being held simultaneously. In particular, it is focussing on the constituencies reserved for scheduled castes and tribes both in the state Assembly and Parliament.
In this regard TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy has reportedly asked BRS MLA Ajmeera Rekha Naik to contest from the Adilabad Lok Sabha constituency. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has denied ticket to Rekha Naik to contest the Assembly elections. Following this, she is expected to join the Congress and re-contest from her home constituency of Khanapur.
However, Rekha Naik and her husband Shyam Naik are stated to be disappointed with Revanth’s suggestion. She would rather continue in the Assembly than go to Parliament.
On the other hand, senior Congress leader Marsakola Saraswati has recently met the TPCC president and reminded him about his promise of giving her a ticket to contest from the Asifabad assembly constituency. Senior Congress leader Dr Ganesh Rathod is also trying for the party ticket through former MLC K. Premsagar Rao.
Saraswati told Deccan Chronicle that the Congress high command is very sympathetic towards Adivasi candidates. She said AICC observer Prakash Rathod is collecting information about leaders who applied for the Congress ticket. She maintained that the local cadre and second-rung leaders are opposed to parachuting of leaders, who join the party just before the party elections.
These developments have come as a stumbling block for Shyam Naik, who is aspiring for the Congress ticket from Asifabad.
Incidentally, Khanapur MLA Rekha Naik and her husband Shyam became talk of the town when the latter joined the Congress immediately after the BRS refused a ticket to Rekha Naik. Rekha also announced that she would be returning to her parent Congress party.
Shyam Naik is aspiring to contest from Asifabad, since he had worked as a motor vehicle inspector (MVI) in the same area.
TPCC general secretary Vedma Bojju, Congress Mahila wing district president Charulatha Rathod, and TPCC tribal wing state vice-president Bharath Chowhan are trying hard for the Congress ticket from Khanapur, while opposing the entry of Rekha Naik.
