HYDERABAD: As the seat-sharing talks among grand alliance parties and candidates selection process have reached the final stages, Congress is getting ready to announce its list of contestants and manifesto on November 1. With Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu camping in New Delhi, it is believed that alliance partners are all set to finalise the seat-sharing talks.
“Seat sharing talks will be finalised soon and Congress will announce its candidates on November 1. Even Manifesto Committee is giving final touches to manifesto. Both candidates list and manifesto will be announced on the same day,” said TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, who also reached New Delhi on Saturday night.
Speaking about candidates selection process to Express, AICC Telangana in-charge RC Khuntia said: “Besides focusing on selecting candidates with winning chances, we are also trying to ensure that there will no dissent in the party. Though party has decided to give only one ticket to a family, this rule will not apply to those who already have two leaders contesting from the same family.”
Sops for ex-servicemen
Earlier, speaking at Gandhi Bhavan, TPCC chief Uttam announced several sops for ex-servicemen if alliance comes to power. “Congress government will give plots for homes, five acres of land for every ex-serviceman, set up Sainik colonies across the State. Besides giving Rs 5 lakh interest-free loan for construction of homes and will also increase Gallantry Awards amount,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking after TPCC’s manifesto committee meeting at Gandhi Bhavan, panel’s co-chairperson Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said: “We are trying to include more promises in the manifesto and make it as comprehensive as possible. We are exploring the possibility of giving free current up to 100 units even to BCs, pensions to sarpanches and MPTCs, free sand for construction of homes and others.”
Demands increased security
TPCC treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy, meanwhile, demanded increase in security cover for top leaders of Congress, including Z category security for TPCC chief.
“The Election Commission of India should direct Security Review Committee to conduct a fresh review of threat perception to Congress leaders in view of elections. There is a threat of attacks on many leaders, including Uttam Kumar Reddy, like the one that happened to YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy.”
Hyderabad: TDP Telangana unit chief L Ramana poked fun at Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao claiming that the latter had limited himself to just four public meetings ahead of the Assembly polls sensing the discontent and opposition from the people.
“KCR has said that he would address 100 public meetings in 50 days. But he has so far limited himself to just four meetings as TRS leaders are facing a lot of opposition from the people of State. Senior leaders like Etela Rajender are facing the ire of people during their campaign,” said Ramana.
Another senior TDP leader E Peddi Reddy ridiculed KCR saying that government is snooping on every Opposition leader and even tapping opposition parties leaders’ conversations with their family members.