HYDERABAD: It’s akin to the ‘cutting off the Chinese melon’. But, the grand allies of the Grand Alliance are still unsure as to what will be their spheres of influence. Even as candidates of other parties are preparing for the nomination, notification for which will be issued on Monday, Congress leaders are running to the camps of their allies, TJS and CPI, to placate them. Still, no progress seems to have been made with regards to the number of seats and allocation of constituencies for these two allies. As a result, the announcement of candidates, that was supposed to have happened on November 8, seems to have been delayed again. On Sunday, State Congress chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy held a meeting with TJS chief Kodandaram.
AICC secretary Saleem Ahmed and TTDP chief L Ramana also participated in the meeting. Though no agreement on seat sharing seems to have materialised, Uttam Kumar did announce that a statutory committee would be formed, with Kodandaram as its convenor, to fulfil the aspirations of Telangana movement and people. Uttam assured that the alliance was intact despite differences.
“Professor Kodandaram will be the convenor of People’s Aspirations Committee. We will announce which party will contest from where well before the filing of nominations begins,” assured Uttam while interacting with the media after the meeting. He also tried to placate those upset over not having gotten a ticket.
“Though it appeared that TRS would easily win in the beginning, the formation of Grand Alliance has instilled a fear of defeat in the pink party,” claimed TTDP chief L Ramana. “Differences are common when alliances are formed. All that will be sorted out and the Grand Alliance will come to power,” he said.
According to the insiders, Congress has agreed to give 8 seats to TJS. However, disagreement persists over the selection of constituencies. While both parties have agreed that TJS candidates would fight from Malkajgiri, Siddipet, Dubbaka, Medak and Wardhannapet constituencies on the behalf of Grand Alliance, there is a lack of consensus on other constituencies like Miryalguda, Jangaon, Warangal East, Ramagundem, Chandrayangutta, Secunderabad and Mahabubnagar.
Though the stalemate is likely to delay the announcement of Congress candidates, the party might ask the leaders to go ahead with the nomination process and issue B-Forms once the pact is sealed. AICC leader Rajeev Shukla claimed that even the delay in announcement of contestants is part of a strategy.
CPI gives ultimatum
Though a team of Congress leaders led by AICC secretary Shreenivasan Krishnan and TPCC treasurer Gudur Narayan Reddy held discussions with CPI on seat sharing, no progress was made. A miffed CPI warned that its leaders would start filing nominations if the grand old party fails to make a decision by Monday evening.
“Congress has stuck to its earlier stance of allotting Wyra, Husnabad and Bellampalli. But we are asking for five seats including Kothagudem and Munugode. They have not assured us anything. Tomorrow we will speak to Uttam and decide. If Congress does not agree to five seats by Monday evening, we will start filing nominations,” said CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy. Meanwhile, popular student leader and CPI member Kanhaiya Kumar said that people are looking towards alternative politics all over India and Grand Alliance in Telangana is one such attempt. He was in Hyderabad to participate in Abul Kalam Azad birth anniversary celebrations.
Vanama raises the BC card
As CPI has been bargaining hard for Kothagudem seat, Congress aspirant from the constituency, senior leader Vanama Venkateswara Rao stepped pressure on Congress leadership for the seat. He said that as he is one among the few BC leaders in Congress, he should not be denied ticket by allotting the seat to CPI. Vanama said that though he had worked for the party for decades he was neglected in the past and once again party should not deny ticket like BC leader like him.
Uttam promises a sub-plan for Minorities
TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that Congress government will introduce Minorities Sub Plan. Speaking at Abul Kalam Azad’s birth anniversary celebrations in Hyderabad Uttam lambasted TRS chief KCR for neglecting and fooling Minorities. “While it was with 4 per cent reservation provided by Congress that Minorities students studied engineering, medicine courses, KCR fooled them with 12 per cent reservations promise in the state. TRS, AIMIM and BJP are all friends and colluded with each other. Only Congress government will work for the betterment of Minorities,” said Uttam.