Congress party’s State leadership swung into action to impress upon the other Opposition parties to consider its plea to field a common candidate for the Palair Assembly constituency by-election.
Dejected by the announcement of Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao as the TRS candidate for the Palair seat, Congress leadership approached other parties to extend support to one of the family members of the late Congress MLA R. Venkat Reddy, who is expected to enter the fray.
Initially, Congress had hoped that the TRS would heed to its open appeal not to field candidate for the Palair seat as mark of respect for the sitting member, whose demise led to the by-poll.
Congress dials TDP
On Friday, Congress State president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka spoke to other parties leaders. Mr Uttam telephoned Telangana TDP president L. Ramana seeking the party support to field a common candidate.
It is understood that Mr. Ramana told the Congress leader that he would discuss the issue with the TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu and get back to him.
The TDP is toying with the idea of fielding former MP Nama Nageswara Rao, who has running political feud with Tummala.
When Mr. Bhatti met the CPI (M) secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram, he was told that as the party had already announced its candidate with the support of CPI, it was difficult to reconsider the decision.
Mr. Veerabhadram advised the Congress Working president to approach the central leadership for further action.
Only success for the Congress came when Mr. Bhatti called on YSR Congress President Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and Telangana State unit president Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. The YSR Congress chief said his party would support the Congress nominee.
Congress sources said they had approached the Opposition parties hoping that if a common candidate was fielded it would become difficult for the TRS to wrest the seat.
“If we have the support of Left parties, TDP and the YSR Congress, the going will be tough for the TRS candidate,” sources said.
Only success comes with Mr. Jagan saying that his party would support Congress nominee
