Congress’s Initial Telangana Candidate List Sparks Discontent in Some Areas
Hyderabad, October 15: The Congress’s release of its first candidate list for the Telangana Assembly elections on Sunday has stirred discontent within the party in certain areas.
Several aspirants who were denied tickets have expressed their dissatisfaction and even threatened to leave the party.
R. Laxma Reddy, who sought a ticket from the Uppal constituency, broke down during a press conference after the party fielded his rival, Parameswar Reddy. He criticized State Congress President A. Revanth Reddy and announced his intention to send his resignation to party leader Sonia Gandhi.
Another ticket hopeful from the same constituency, S. Somasekhar Reddy, also criticized Revanth Reddy and alleged that he was working to secure victory for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) candidate. Somasekhar Reddy stated that he and others would work to defeat Revanth Reddy in the Kodangal constituency.
Protests and disruptions also took place at Gandhi Bhavan, the headquarters of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC). Supporters of leaders who were denied tickets voiced their displeasure. Some minority workers staged a protest in the old city of Hyderabad, objecting to the denial of tickets to outsiders.
In the Medchal constituency, tensions escalated as supporters of two leaders nearly came to blows over the ticket issue. Supporters of Harshvardhan Reddy expressed their anger after the party decided to field T. Jangaiah Yadav. In the Kollapur constituency, backers of Jagdeswar Rao removed banners and posters at the party office in protest against the denial of a ticket to their leader. They alleged that Revanth Reddy had sold tickets to Jupally Krishna Rao, who recently joined the Congress after leaving BRS.
The Congress unveiled its first list of 55 candidates on Sunday, with the Telangana assembly elections set for November 30.
