HYDERABAD: Even before the announcement of candidates, rebel trouble has started brewing in Congress. Several workers from Serilingampally constituency held a protest under the leadership of former MLA and ticket aspirant M Bikshpati Yadav at Gandhi Bhavan on Sunday.The day-long protest turned violent when a Congress worker tried to immolate himself by pouring petrol and another worker slit his hand, demanding TPCC not to allot Serilingampally constituency to allies, as part of Grand Alliance agreement.
According to the agreement between TDP & Congress, Serilingampally is being allotted to TDP. While Bikshapati Yadav vowed to work against Grand Alliance, if Serilingampally is not allotted to Congress, he later ended the protest, after AICC secretary Madhu Yaskhi intervened. “Though alliances have been confirmed, seat sharing has still not been finalised among parties.
Therefore Congress leaders and workers should not get anxious. High Command is determined to protect the interests of Congress cadres in the wake of the alliance. Congress is strong in Serilingampally and we will put pressure on High Command to retain this constituency with Congress. Even Rahul Gandhi is particular about ensuring Congress leaders from all sections get tickets and those who do not get tickets are rewarded suitably after formation of the government,” said Madhu Yaskhi, while addressing the protesting Congress workers.
Leaders from several other constituencies also protested at Gandhi Bhavan. With the announcement of tickets nearing, more rebels are expected to trouble Congress, keeping in view the huge demand for Congress tickets. Over 1,000 leaders have applied for Congress tickets for 119 constituencies. With Congress leaving at least 25 seats to allies, the ticket war in the grand old party is only set to get bitter soon.
Meanwhile TPCC senior leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy added another dimension to the ‘ticket war’ saying that instead of asking cadre and lower level leaders to sacrifice, why cannot seniors sacrifice.
“Seat sharing details are still not finalised. Congress workers should not get disheartened. High Command should ensure that committed Congress workers are not neglected. Some senior leaders are asking cadre to sacrifice. Instead of asking others, why can’t the senior leaders themselves sacrifice,” said Sudhakar Reddy.