WARANGAL/HYDERABAD: Following rumours that the Warangal West Assembly constituency has been allotted to TDP as part of the rumoured seat-sharing agreement between Grand Alliance parties, supporters of DCC president Naini Rajender Reddy on Sunday protested against the Congress high command at the party’s district office. Led by Congress’ city chief K Srinivas, the protestors, on being told that Reddy wouldn’t be given the ticket, locked themselves up inside the party office. They also threatened to commit suicide if the party failed to honour their demands.
Later, speaking through a window from within the building, Srinivas lamented to media persons the reasons for their protest. “Naini Rajender Reddy has worked for the party for over 30 years and has been crucial in strengthening its position in erstwhile Warangal district. The reason that Congress is a force to be reckoned with in Warangal is him. It is not fair,” he said. Srinivas said that his party’s high command was sending the cadre a ‘wrong message’ by ignoring Reddy. “We ask the leadership to reconsider its decision as it would greatly help the workers’ morale.
If it doesn’t change its decision, we will see that Reddy contests as an Independent candidate and also wins,” he said. “If TDP is given the Warangal West ticket, TRS candidate D Vinay Bhaskar will win easily. TDP does not have the necessary amount of support from the people to win,” he stated.
Rebel trouble only grows further
While Grand Alliance top leaders are grappling to seal an agreement, aspirants who feared denial of tickets stepped up their protest. While Congress workers from Khanapur continued their protest for third day, aspirants from even Vemulawada, Warangal East, Malkajgiri and other constituencies protested at Gandhi Bhavan demanding TPCC not to allot these constituencies to allies. As tension filled in Congress cadres across Telangana, ticket aspirants protests continued even in Delhi.
“Tickets are being given to parachute candidates who have never worked for party and joined party recently. Workers and leaders who have been working for the party for years are being overlooked. Not even one ticket has been given to Osmania University student leaders,” said Manavata Roy protesting in Delhi.
Dissent has hit even TJS party. Party supporters from Mahabubnagar constituency protested before party office, demanding Mahbubnagar seat to Rajender Reddy. As Congress is unwilling to allot Mahbubnagar constituency to TJS, workers from the constituency protested. The protest turned violent when a worker poured petrol and tried to immolate himself.
TPCC secretary threatens to contest as Independent
Mahbubnagar: TPCC secretary Surender Reddy gave an ultimatum to the Congress high command, that if he is not allotted a ticket by Monday, he will contest as an Independent. While addressing a press meet on Sunday, he said that there is heavy pressure from his followers and local party activists to contest as an Independent.
Confusion prevails in Adilabad’s Cong camps
Adilabad: Confusion seems to be the prevailing emotion in the district’s Congress camps. While a few leaders, confident of winning the ticket, already started campaigns, a few ticket aspirants are roaming around in New Delhi for confirmation. In Adilabad, there are 4 aspirants including former minister C Ramchandra Reddy and TPCC secretary G Sujatha. However, Sujatha has already started the campaign, claiming to have got information of her candidature being finalised.
Protests against proposed ticket allotment in Cong
Peddapalli: On Sunday, senior Congress leaders from the constituency staged a protest in New Delhi opposing the proposed ticket allotment to Ch Vijayaramana Rao. They demanded the ticket to be allotted to BC leaders. From Peddapalli, senior BC leader Eerla Komuraiah, Geetla Savitha Reddy and Ch Vijayaramana Rao have been aspiring for the ticket.