Notwithstanding the not-so-encouraging feedback from the field about prospects of the Congress in the April 30 polls in Telangana, chief ministerial aspirants began to take stock of the polling trends and garner the support of partymen.
On record, all the top Congress leaders claim that victory over the TRS is a foregone conclusion. But during in-camera meetings, these leaders express fears that the going is not smooth. Information gathered from the 119 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha constituencies has clearly indicated that it would be a close fight between the Congress and the TRS in several constituencies.
Not sure about their fate, seniors like Telangana PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, former PCC chief D. Srinivas, former Deputy Chief Minister C. Damodar Raj Narasimha and former Minister K. Jana Reddy are busy making their own calculations about the chances of becoming the Chief Minister if the party comes to power.
A series of developments and the statements made by these leaders clearly indicate their keenness to be at the helm of affairs in Telangana State. The TPCC chief while exuding confidence about Congress performance maintains that high command would certainly consider him for the Chief Minister’s post because if the party is able to win a majority of the seats, he would get credit for the same.
Mr. Srinivas on Sunday maintained that he was not in the race for the top post but was quick to add that his experience as PCC president during the 2004 and 2009 elections would stand him in good stead for the Chief Minister’s post. He also brought in the BC angle claiming that high command would back a leader from the weaker sections.
Mr. Jana Reddy, a serious contender for the CM’s post, was closeted with Congress candidates at a meeting on Sunday. Sources said Mr. Reddy tried to take stock of the polling to arrive at the number of seats the party could win. He is believed to have listed out the names of the Congress candidates who stood chances of scraping through.
It is understood that he is slowly but carefully nursing the possible candidates with a fair chance of winning to support him in case there is a race for the top post. Mr. Reddy without talking about his aspirations said the Congress would comfortably form the government. He said the TRS was indulging in mind games to demoralise the Congress workers.
A senior TPCC functionary said that a section of the leaders had worked for the defeat of certain bigwigs and, in turn, chart their own path smoother for the top post.
