HYDERABAD: With the Karnataka Assembly election results on the horizon, leaders of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee are actively focusing on party joinings and finalisation of about 70% of the candidates for the upcoming elections in Telangana. In a bid to strengthen their position, party leaders have already held discussions with several former MLAs from the ruling party, as the grand old party seeks to field strong contenders.
According to reliable sources within the Congress, discussions have taken place with a sitting MLC from the ruling BRS, offering assurance of a ticket for the constituency the MLC represented earlier. Additionally, high-level leaders from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) have engaged in fruitful discussions with a former minister and a former MP, assuring them of significant roles within the party. The political decisions of these individuals are expected to be announced shortly after the results of the Karnataka Assembly election.
Sources have also confirmed that the party leadership is targeting four former MLAs from the BRS, who have been maintaining a distance from active politics. The leaders are likely to hold discussions with the TPCC in-charge and subsequently bring them to Delhi where they would formally join the grand old party at the end of this month.
Meanwhile, dissatisfied leaders from the ruling party are closely monitoring the Karnataka poll results, determining which party is likely to form the government. These leaders have been maintaining contacts with both Congress and BJP leaders, seeking assurances and promises of favourable tickets. According to insiders, the Congress is deemed more favourable due to the leadership’s strong assurance compared to the BJP.
Congress leaders in Telangana are anticipating a landslide victory for the party in Karnataka, which would greatly bolster its prospects and morale in their fight against the ruling BRS as well as the BJP. The leaders have been discussing among their close associates the need for senior party members to work in a unified manner, taking inspiration from the working style and functioning of the Karnataka Congress leaders. Additionally, the party high command has shifted its focus to Karnataka, awaiting the election results.
Prominent figures such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge are closely monitoring the situation. Senior leaders have expressed confidence that if the party receives a favourable verdict in Karnataka, the leadership will undoubtedly shift their attention to Telangana and embark on regular tours.
The leaders believe that the party’s support base remains strong, citing the 29% vote share they obtained in the State during the 2019 General Elections. They anticipate that this support will only increase if the Karnataka results deliver a resounding victory for the Congress. Furthermore, the recent developments regarding party joinings and candidate finalisation have created a positive sentiment among the people, signalling a strategic boost for the party.