Exactly four months after the shocking defeat in the Assembly elections, the Congress got its first act right by announcing its candidates for 16 out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in the State ahead of the TRS.
The list is clearly a mix of former MPs and those who have had stints as legislators in the Telangana Assembly. Curiously enough, the party had to settle for several of those candidates who faced humiliating defeat in the recent Assembly elections.
Party sources told The Hindu that it was a tough task in short-listing the candidates as many of them, after their poor performance in the Assembly elections, were reluctant to enter the fray. Leaders from the parties like the TDP and TRS, who switched their loyalties ahead of the December Assembly elections, too have found a place in the Congress list.
The party had to convince a reluctant TPCC chief, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, to lead the nominees by contesting from Nalgonda LS seat.
Nevertheless, the party now banks on the experience of Madhu Yaskhi (Nizamabad), Ponnam Prabhakar (Karimnagar), Porike Balram Naik (Mahabubabad), Anjan Kumar Yadav (Secunderabad), Rathod Ramesh (Adilabad ST) and Mallu Ravi (Nagarkurnool SC) to see victory in the electoral battle.
Amid the gloomy scenario in the aftermath of poll debacle, the Congress leadership is convinced that it would not concede easily in at least Chevella, Malkajgiri, Adilabad, Secunderabad, Khammam and Bhongir constituencies, where it has fielded formidable nominees.
Former Nalgonda MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy moved to Bhongir, which was represented by his younger brother and present Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy between 2009-14. Picking TPCC working president A. Revanth Reddy (Malkajgiri) has gone down well with the cadre, a TPCC functionary remarked.
The Congress leadership hopes to put up a good show in Chevella where Congress MP Konda Vishveshwar Reddy, who was with TRS earlier, is the candidate.
Leaders contesting the LS elections for the first time include Madan Mohan Rao (Zaheerabad), Challa Vamshichand Reddy (Mahabubnagar), Dommeti Sambaiah (Warangal SC) and Feroz Khan (Hyderabad).
Congress Legislature Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the party was unfazed by the recent defeat. “We are going to the people asking them whether they want Modi or Rahul. The other issue we wish to raise is, ‘Why does KCR ask for 16 MP seats? What are his intentions? Will these MPs support Modi or Rahul Gandhi after the general elections? Mr. KCR has to spell out his stand on this,” he said.
Congress candidate from Mahabubnagar Ch. Vamshichand Reddy said he would file a set of nominations on Wednesday and launch his campaign.
“My focus will be to tell the electorate that its a fight between the BJP and the Congress, and TRS will not figure anywhere. I will focus on the young voters. We will have to ward off the TRS party’s money and muscle power,” he said.
The party sources said most of the Congress candidates would file their papers on March 22 (Friday) and launch their campaign.
Former MP Madhu Yaskhi contesting from Nizamabad maintained that the voting pattern would be different from that of the Assembly elections.
“The minorities will certainly think twice before voting for the TRS as a vote for the ruling party will be a vote for the BJP. There is a sea change in the mood among the voters,” he claimed.
