Hyderabad: Cong nominating ‘carpetbaggers’ infuriates many senior leaders

Hyderabad: Much to the chagrin of the devoted party leaders and workers, the nomination of ‘carpetbaggers’ for the Lok Sabha polls in Telangana is echoed in the sentiments of some seniors within the party. They have raised concerns over the State Congress following the BRS way and playing into the hands of BJP.

After the release of the 2nd list of candidates, not only seniors like V Hanumantha Rao, but those who have been attached to the party for over a decade have questioned the selection of candidates. Alleging that ‘wives and sons’ were given tickets, some of the ‘demoralised’ party men are echoing similar responses and feel this would make it easy for BJP in LS polls.

It is to mention here that in the 2nd list,Gaddam Ranjit Reddy, the sitting MP (Chevella) who defected from BRS was named. While wife of Patnam Mahender Reddy, the former Minister, Sunitha Mahender Reddy was accommodated by giving ticket from Malkajgiri, a parachute candidate. While DanamNagender is the sitting MLA (Khairatabad) who also defected and will be contesting from Secunderabad. While others at Nagarkurnool (Mallu Ravi) and Peddapalli (Gaddam Vamsi Krishna) candidates are the kin of Legislators. In the first list K Jaiveer Reddy (Nalgonda) is the son of former Minister K Jana Reddy. It is being argued that even former MLA ChallaVamsichand Reddy got the ticket from Mahbubnagar because of his family’s political background.

“The Congress has been critical of the way BRS has behaved while being in power. Now the Telangana Congress has come to a stage where there is no major difference. Carpetbaggers are being offered tickets, while ignoring the party’s candidates who remained with the party for decades. If these parachute candidates are being considered competent, then what about the 50,000 party members, the numbers in which the leadership took pride in till recently?” asked a former AICC member.

Some seniors like senior vice president G Niranjan wrote to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on March 22, the very next day pointing that this was sending a wrong message to the voters and cadre. “The people of Telangana have defeated BRS and voted Congress Party to power with a wish to have a change of power in the State, but fielding D Nagender, Sunita Reddy and Ranjit Reddy as Congress candidates is against the expectations of the people and it also insult to the Congress cadre and demoralise them,” he pointed out.

Niranjan also requested Kharge to reconsider the decision. “We request your good self to reconsider the decision and to field committed and loyal Congress workers who stood by the party during good and bad days, in all 17 Loksabha segments,” Chairman PCC Election Commission Coordination committee.