Hoping to improve party’s prospects, Congress leaders from Telangana have invited AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi to contest from Medak Parliamentary constituency.
“We have requested the party leadership to consider our plea to field Mr. Gandhi from Telangana. This will certainly boost the party’s prospects in the region. People have gratitude for AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, who is instrumental in granting Telangana State,” former PCC president D. Srinivas told The Hindu on Thursday.
“I requested her to consider our plea,” he said, but added that the party chief did not react. Senior leaders maintained that there was a proposal that Mr. Gandhi contest from the Medak Parliamentary constituency. The seat was won by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1980, but she vacated it later.
Sources said if the central leadership seriously explores the possibility, the party may consider shifting suspended TRS MP Vijayashanti to another constituency. If Mr. Gandhi, who represents Amethi in the LS, turns down the request, the party may have to choose between Ms. Vijayashanti and Medak DCC chief and MLC V. Bhoopal Reddy.
It would be interesting to see if Mr. Gandhi would respond to the plea given the fact that TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao was planning to enter the fray from Medak LS seat, a Telangana Congress leader said.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders are keen that Ms. Gandhi and Mr. Rahul Gandhi tour the region and address a series of public meetings to boost the party’s chances after the TRS made it clear it wanted to go it alone in the elections.
While the party has more or less completed the process of selecting candidates for over 10 Lok Sabha seats in the region, it is yet to find suitable candidates for Peddapalli, Nagarkurnool and Adilabad constituencies.
