Prajakutami: Congress to field at least 95 candidates

It’s almost final now. In spite of facing pressure from its grand alliance allies TDP, CPI and TJS, the Congress almost sure to contest from at least 95 seats in the upcoming elections. With this out of the way, TPCC leadership will now have to tackle the possible discontent within the party, owing to tickets ‘lost’ to alliance parties. 

On Wednesday, TPCC leadership met at Gandhi Bhavan to discuss their strategy for the coming weeks. TPCC leaders discussed their strategy to pacify these dissatisfied leaders in order to convince them to work for the party nonetheless. “Nearly 5,000 people applied for Congress tickets, but only 95-100 people will get it. But even those who did not get the tickets will have to work for the victory of the grand alliance. And we will suitably reward such people,” said TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy. 

While seat sharing with allies and selection of contestants is yet to be finalised Reddy said that there was no need for hurry. “There is no need to hurry in finalising seats and candidates as there is sufficient time. Seat sharing talks are going on. We will take right decision at an appropriate time. In fact, TRS has only hurt itself by announcing tickets so early. TRS’ popularity is declining while Congress’ is on the rise. TRS will not win more than 30 seats,” said Uttam.  TPCC chief also found fault with TRS for conducting party programs in Pragati Bhavan and said that Congress would complain to the ECI.

Besides focusing on readying its leaders and cadre for the alliance, TPCC also discussed about party president Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming meetings.

‘Congress to focus on youth’

Congress leaders stated that they will focus on the needs and issues of students and the youth who, according to them, were the most neglected section of the population during TRS’ rule. The party has already promised to generate two lakh jobs. “People aged between 18 and 39 form a majority of the population and we are focusing on them.

There are nearly 12 lakh unemployed youth and TRS has neglected them for the last four years. TRS is taking about them only after we announced an unemployment allowance,” said Uttam Kumar Reddy speaking to media. In a separate meeting Reddy said that if Congress came to power, it would give much needed focus to the education sector in Telangana, something that TRS had failed to do. 

While TPCC has decided to conduct as many campaign meetings with Rahul  Gandhi as possible, it is planning to organise an exclusive public meeting aimed at students and youth with the AICC president. TPCC has also decided to carry out a campaign using four teams led by Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Revanth Reddy, Uttam and Jana Reddy. Also, ‘Intintiki  Indiramma Intintiki Soubhagyam’, a door to door campaign will be held on Indira Gandhi’s death anniversary on October 31.

HC directs Centre to explain stand on Revanth’s security

The Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Centre and ECI to explain its stand by Friday on the issue of providing security to Telangana Congress leader and former Kodangal MLA A Revanth Reddy in view of life threat perception. Reddy had on Tuesday filed a petition requesting 4 + 4 security personnel in view of threat perception to him from political opponents in the TRS 

Party will try to earn ‘bharosa’ of Gulf migrants

Telanagna Congress affairs in-charge RC Khuntia flagged off the party’s ‘gulf bharosa yatra’ on Wednesday. The yatra will travel through 25 constituencies in erstwhile Karimnagar, Adilabad, Nizamabad and Medak districts, which have a large number of Gulf-based NRIs. “KCR has betrayed Gulf NRIs, but we will solve all their problems,” Khuntia said

TJS executive committee to meet today

Leaders of Telangana Jana Samithi, the ‘junior’ partner of the grand alliance, will meet on Thursday to take stock of the situation at the ground level. “Seat haring talks are going on with Congress. From 36 seats we have come down to about 16 seats, keeping in view the interests of the people and to put an end to TRS rule in the State. In the executive meeting we will encourage our cadre to work for the alliance,” said a spokesperson