HYDERABAD: Congress took care to provide importance to BC leaders in its fourth list, which will also likely be the final list and sprang up a surprise by allotting Miryalguda seat to BC leader R Krishnaiah.
After several rounds of hectic discussions, Congress finally announced its fourth list with six candidates late on Sunday night. Congress High Command had made efforts to send signals that it has given more importance to BCs than TRS, by including several BC leaders in its list.
While popular BC leader R Krishnaiah was given Miryalguda, another BC leader Kasani Gnaneshwar has been given Secunderabad constituency. Senior leader and Narayankhed candidate Suresh Shetkar, Narayanpet candidate Vamanagiri Krishna are also BCs.
AICC bosses have allotted Miryalguda to R Krishnaiah, though TJS chief Kodandaram and K Jana Reddy have tried hard for the seat. Jana Reddy made an unsuccessful attempt to get Miryalguda for his son Raghuveer Reddy.
While Congress has announced candidates for 88 constituencies till now, with this fresh list, it has given clarity on its war horses in total 94 constituencies. According to Grand Alliance pact, Congress is expected to fight in 94 seats. Thus this fourth list may also be the final list, though it might swap one or two constituencies with its allies if last-minute changes occur.
However as TJS had already given Miryalguda B-Form to its contestant Vidhaydhar Reddy, it has to be seen whether it will withdraw or continue a friendly contest here. TPCC sources said that R Krishnaiah who was elected as TDP MLA from LB Nagar in 2014 polls joined Congress officially on Sunday evening. Later his name appeared in Congress list.
Congress jumps into damage control mode
Congress jumped into action to curb dissent. AICC’s team consisting of Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy, Karnataka Congress senior leader DK Shivakumar met disgruntled leaders who did not get tickets and tried to convince them not to work against Grand Alliance candidates. While dissident leaders like Naini Rajender from Warangal West, Karthik Reddy from Rajendranagar, Palvai Sravanthi from Munugode appeared bit calmed down after meeting the AICC team, Congress aspirant from Ibrahimpatnam Malreddy Ranga Reddy said he would contest as an independent.
Congress list
Congress announced its fourth list with 6 candidates late on Sunday night. The names are...
Korutla - Juvvadi Narsingh Rao
Narayankhed - Suresh Kumar Shetkar
Secunderabad - Kasani Gnaneswar
Narayanpet - Vamanagiri Krishna
Devarakadra - Pavan Kumar Reddy
Miryalguda - R Krishnaiah
Preparations for Sonia Gandhi’s meeting on Nov 23 in full swing
The Telangana Congress has started preparations for Sonia Gandhi’s public meeting at Medchal on November 23. As Sonia is coming to Telangana after a long time, TPCC has been leaving no stone unturned to make her public meeting a huge success. According to the schedule released by TPCC, on November 23, Sonia Gandhi will arrive at Begumpet airport. After reaching Medchal at around 6 pm, she will deliver a speech to be held from 6 to 7: 30 pm.
She will fly back to Delhi from Begumpet airport at 8 pm. TPCC campaign committee chief Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Medchal Congress contestant K Laxma Reddy visited the venue where Sonia’s public meeting will be held and reviewed the arrangements. Sonia Gandhi has good following among Telangana people as she played a key role in the formation of Telangana state. Therefore, the TPCC leaders are planning to get the maximum mileage out of her campaign meet at Medchal.