Congress focus on Rahul Vs Modi in LS poll campaign

Strategists draw up plans to negate KCR factor in LS elections in State

February 03, 2019 11:20 pm | Updated February 04, 2019 07:15 am IST - Hyderabad

K. Chandrasekhar Rao

K. Chandrasekhar Rao

The dominance of Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekar Rao in Telangana and his impact on Parliament results here will be negated by the Congress portraying the election fight as the one between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AICC president Rahul Gandhi.

Party sources said the whole effort of the campaigning will be to portray it as a contest between Mr. Rahul Gandhi and Mr. Modi so that the KCR factor will be relegated to the background. Party strategists feel Assembly results will no way impact the Parliament voting as even people would see it as a fight for Parliament rather than the State.

AICC Telangana incharge R.C. Khuntia said the issues would be national and so will be the campaign style.

“Failure of Mr. Modi on various fronts and the allegations being faced in the deals in the Rafale issue would be exposed apart from the farm distress in the country. Mr. Modi has failed the youngsters of the country by faring badly at generating employment that has also been corroborated with the recent NSSO sample survey,” he said.

Senior leaders including TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy argue that Mr. Gandhi’s emergence as an alternative to Mr. Modi at the national-level and his aggressive campaign against the scams involved in the Rafale deal has already made an impact on the youngsters and the common people.

The farm loan waiver promised by Mr. Gandhi is being seen as a potent poll weapon by the leaders and they say nation’s mood is with the Congress and the results of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have already proved it.

Tickets in advance

Congress that considers delay in the announcement of tickets in the Assembly as one of the reasons for its defeat doesn’t want to repeat the mistake.

Mr. Khuntia said candidates will be announced early this time giving them enough time for mopping up resources and to campaign extensively.

The party has already constituted new Election Committee, Campaigning Committee, Coordination Committee, Publicity Committee, Media Relations committee, among others involving all the seniors. Film star Vijayashanti will head the Campaign committee while All working presidents have also been given responsibility.

Demand for tickets

The Congress party is in a piquant situation to face the Parliament elections with most senior leaders, who lost in the Assembly elections, showing keen interest to contest again while those who were denied tickets in the Assembly and promised Parliament tickets also in the race.

The defeat of some of its tall leaders like K. Jana Reddy, Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, J. Geeta Reddy, A. Revanth Reddy, D.K. Aruna, Mallu Ravi, Ponnam Prabhakar was totally unexpected and they are now eyeing Parliament seats that have already been promised to others. How will they be accommodated with all senior leaders indicating their wish to be in the fray?

Mr. Komatireddy Venkata Reddy has already announced his wish to contest from Nalgonda Parliament constituency while party heads say they got indications that D.K. Aruna and S. Jaipal Reddy are eyeing Mahabubnagar while Revanth Reddy will opt for Malkajgiri. Ponnam Prabhakar was reluctant to contest as MLA but was promised to be nominated for Karimnagar Parliament seat only if he contested. TPCC treasurer Gudur Narayan Reddy has been working in Bhongir constituency with the confidence that he would get the nomination.

Mallu Ravi has fixed his eyes on Nagarkurnool and Addanki Dayakar on Peddapalli seats, which are reserved for Scheduled Castes. Former Union minister Balram Naik wants Mahabubabad constituency reserved for Scheduled Tribes and Ramesh Rathod is seeking Adilabad.

Two-time MP, Anjan Kumar Yadav is confident of getting the Secunderabad seat though senior party leaders invited TPCC working president and cricketer Mohd. Azharuddin. However, it is being said Mr. Azharuddin is using his influence in New Delhi to contest from Mumbai.

MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga is said to be seeking Congress’s support to him for the Warangal seat.

There are already number of aspirants who were denied ticket in the Assembly elections with the promise of being nominated for Parliament seats. Patel Ramesh Reddy from Suryapet is one such leader who was hinted as Congress nominee for Nalgonda parliament seat. It is now said apart from Venkat Reddy even Jana Reddy is eyeing it. Similarly, for every seat there are already two or three aspirants.

Winnability will be the major factor, says AICC secretary incharge of Telangana R.C. Khuntia and on the assurances given to various leaders earlier he said all the names will be sent for surveys to be done by different agencies to arrive at their popularity.

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