Fake list circulated on social media: TPCC

Hyderabad: A list of Congress probables for the next elections, which is viral on social media, created a flutter among the party leaders. The viral circulation of the list forced the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) to deny its existence. 

The list contains about 60 names for 60 Assembly constituencies which left leaders in a confused state. The leaders were told by the party top leaders that the list was a fake one on enquiry.

The people responsible for posting the list on social media claimed that it was sent over by the party high command and was prepared at the behest of the high command. 

However, TPCC leadership vehemently condemned the list and said it was a ploy by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party to create confusion among the party rank and file. They told the leaders of the Assembly constituencies not to believe the list.

In a statement, TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said TPCC had no relation with the list and the Congress workers should not believe it. It was just a misapprehension and added that the party did not release any such list.

Deputy Floor Leader in Legislative Council Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy said some persons had put the list on social media to create confusion among the party workers. He alleged that the ruling party had been trying to derive benefit out of it.

Sources said the list was planted by people with vested interests based on the comments made by TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy that the party has clarity on the candidates in 60 constituencies.

Party leaders said the list contained names of those who died and pointed out that name of Mithrasena for Aswaraopet constituency, who died two years ago, was put in the list. 

The list confirmed the name of Seethakka from Mulugu constituency, who joined the party recently. Here the party had a strong candidate P Veeraiah.

The list did not contain the name of D K Aruna, representing the party from Gadwal constituency. Name of Boddupalli Laxmi for Nalgonda had been added to the list whereas it was represented by party MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy.

Citing these examples, TPCC leaders asked the workers not to believe the list as the errors prove that it was a fake one. They said the ruling party had been playing mind games ahead of elections with such tricks.

As there is a stiff competition for nominations, the Congress is struggling to finalise the candidates in many of the constituencies without disappointing the other contenders. Circulation of such lists had aggravated problems of the party.

The top leaders of the party, called several leaders of different constituencies on phone in the past two days to inform them that the list is not an authentic one. They tried to convince them that so far, no candidate was finalised.