Congress delays list to torpedo TRS plans

​Hyderabad: The Congress is delaying the release of its list of candidates with a strategy in mind through which it wants to check the gimmicks of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi. 

Party leaders said that the list would be delayed to check the plans of TRS to change its candidates in the last minute. They said that the list would be announced few days before the filing of nominations so that TRS would not have a chance to change its candidates during filing of nominations. 

It may be noted here that TRS has announced its candidates four weeks ago who have started campaigning in their respective constituencies. 

Though the Congress has begun its exercise to select candidates, it has been delaying the announcement. Further, it has 17 days left to announce the names. The Pradesh Election Committee which met twice examined 5,000 applications and recommended about 200 names.  

The list was sent to the AICC screening committee which visited Hyderabad in the second week of October. Committee chairman Bhakta Charan Das who is in city has been meeting the aspirants. This clearly indicates that the Congress is not a hurry to release its list and would continue delay it on one or pretext or the other. 

According to party senior leaders, the Congress wants to announce its candidates a week before the commencement of filing of nominations. This would allow the party to check the efforts of TRS to change its candidates. 

They said that the TRS chief has been conducting regular surveys on the winning chances of his candidates and already warned some candidates about their defeat. He said that if they do not improve their chances, they could be replaced. 

The Congress suspects that once its list is announced, the TRS would compare the winning chances, local equations and other factors and would change its candidates accordingly. On the other hand, the Congress has been receiving requests of joining from other party leaders, particularly from TRS. Several leaders of TRS are ready to join the Congress if they are promised tickets. 

For example, the Congress may field TRS leader Narsa Reddy from Medak or Gajwel if he joins Congress. Till now, the Congress has not considered his name for candidature from both the constituencies. Karimnagar ZP chairperson Tula Uma is likely to join Congress and she may be given ticket from Vemulawada. Telugu Desam former MLA R Krishnaiah may also join and may be given ticket. 

In the same way, the Congress is expecting switch over of several leaders from TRS. The party has to accommodate them and this needs some more time. The Congress will finalise the list in the November first week.