T Congress list has a few surprises - TeluguPeople.com News

HYDERABAD: The Congress high command released the list of its candidates for 111 Assembly seats in Telangana. Though there are no major surprises, it did disappoint a few ' among them is its so-called ally CPI.

And, despite pleas from its heavy weights in the region to let their kith and kin contest the polls, the party decided against 'family packages' while retaining most of its sitting MLAs.

The CPI, which sought nine Assembly seats, was in for a shock when the Congress named 111 candidates, leaving out just eight. Though it largely bet on sitting members and the old guard, the Congress leadership dropped a few veterans ' notably, Secunderabad Cantonment MLA P Shankar Rao, who is constructing a temple for party chief Sonia Gandhi, and former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy.

Rao had sought the Cantonment ticket for his daughter and another constituency for himself. The party, instead, replaced him with Osmania University JAC leader Krishank, whose name was reportedly recommended by former deputy CM C Damodara Rajanarasimha.

Interestingly, contrary to AICC leader Randeep Singh Surjewala's claim that tickets were given to four TJAC leaders, the Congress ignored TJAC hopefuls Addanki Dayakar, Gajjele Kantham and Daruvu Ellanna.

As already reported, Medak MP Vijayashanti, who quit the TRS and joined the Congress, was allotted the Medak Assembly ticket. Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao will be in the fray in Amberpet Assembly constituency and MLC Mohammed Ali Shabbir in Kamareddy.

TPCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Rajanarasimha will be standing in their respective constituencies, Jangaon and Andole while former PCC chief D Srinivas was shifted to Nizamabad Rural. Sabitha's son Karthik Reddy got the nod to contest for Chevella Lok Sabha constituency.

Though requests of Ponnala, TPCC working president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, D Srinivas, Rajanarasimha, K Jana Reddy and Palvai Govardhan Reddy for tickets to their relatives were ignored, some exceptions were made to the rule. Peddapalli MP G Vivekananda, who recently returned to the Congress from the TRS, managed to get his brother Vinod the Chennur ticket.

Same is the case with Komatireddy brothers (Venkat Reddy and Rajgopal Reddy) and Ramreddy brothers (Venkat Reddy and Damodar Reddy). Damodar Reddy will contest from Suryapet and his brother Venkat Reddy from Palair.

Similarly, former minister DK Aruna will contest from Gadwal and her brother T Rammohan Reddy from Parigi. Even DS Redya Naik and his daughter M Kavitha managed to get a family package - Naik will be in the fray in Dornakal (ST) and Kavitha in Mahabubabad.

The party leadership did not name its candidate for Kodad which is being demanded by Uttam Kumar Reddy for his wife Padamvathi. Interestingly, Vinay Kumar, son of former senior Congress leader P Shiv Shankar, has been nominated from Musheerabad constituency.

Vinay had earlier played a key role in Chiranjeevi's now-defunct Praja Rajyam Party. Vinay's candidature seems to have angered former minister M Mukhesh Goud, who wants his son to contest from Musheerabad.

Party ticket for Malkajgiri Assembly constituency, which is in great demand, went to Nandi Kanti Sridhar. A few hours before the list was out, TDP leader Mynampalli Hanumantha Rao joined the Congress in the hope of getting the ticket.

Almost similar is the case of Akula Rajender. The sitting Congress member from Malkajgiri, who joined the TRS in the hope of retaining his seat, came back to the Congress after the pink party disappointed him. State youth Congress president N Vamsichand Reddy has also been accommodated.

Rude shock for CPI

The Congress announced candidates for 111 Assembly seats in Telangana, going back on its promise to give nine seats to the CPI. It appears the Left party will have to be content with eight seats now.

The AICC leadership which had promised Station Ghanpur to the CPI under a seat-sharing agreement, announced G Vijaya Rama Rao from there. Taken aback, CPI leaders went into a huddle. Rama Rao had quit the TRS and joined Congress recently.