Giving a go ahead to the grand alliance in Telangana and providing more ammunition to Telangana Congress president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi has warned the leaders that any attempt to sabotage the party would be viewed seriously.
Mr. Gandhi said Congress was coming back to power in Telangana and said senior leaders should bury their differences to make it a smooth affair. At a presentation made by him, along with the TPCC president and AICC secretary R.C. Khuntia, he said surveys were in the party’s favour and the grand alliance will certainly throw out the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
He apparently informed the Congress leaders who met him, including Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Komatireddy brothers, Revanth Reddy, Sampath Kumar, D.K. Aruna, Ponnam Prabhakar, Anjan Yadav, Mallu Ravi among others, that people were with the party and all they need to do is work together. “Don’t go to media and any differences have to be sorted out in consultation with Mr. Khuntia or Mr. Uttam Reddy.”
Mr. Khuntia told The Hindu that Mr. Gandhi wanted the alliance to be stitched in such a way that Congress interests will get priority and it will not yield to seats where it can win comfortably. He said any leader venting their feelings against the party’s line would be dealt with all seriousness. Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy is in talks with TDP, CPI and other like minded parties and the final outcome may take a week.
A three-member screening committee headed by Bhakth Charan Das and comprising Jothimani Sennimalai and Sharmishta Mukherjee will screen the party candidates’ list but the final say would be with the AICC leadership.
Senior leaders who met with Mr. Gandhi personally shared their views on the political situation and the strategies to be adopted. A senior leader said Mr. Gandhi gave a patient hearing but reminded them of party discipline and warned them of serious consequences if they cross the limits.
Earlier, TRS MLC Bhoopati Reddy from Nizamabad and film producer and actor Bandla Ganesh joined the party in the presence of Mr. Gandhi where they vouched to work for the party in their assigned roles. Sources said Mr. Reddy, who was with the TRS since its formation, is eyeing the Nizamabad rural seat.
