SCCL poll campaign intensifies

Kothagudem: Campaign for the Singareni-recognised trade union elections reminiscence campaign of the general elections. Leaders of trade unions affiliated to political outfits campaigned in all the 11 areas of the SCCL.

Of the 53,146 workers, who are supposed to exercise their franchise, 1,000 are retiring September end. Therefore, only 52,534 will exercise their right. In all, 92 polling booths have been set up.

In support of the TRS-affiliated Telangana Boggu Ghani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS), Khammam and Mahabubabad MPs Pongulelti Srinivas Reddy and Sitaram Naik have completed campaigning for the candidates.

In Manuguru and Illandu, Deputy Chief Ministers’ Kadiyam Srihari and Mahamood Ali campaigned for the candidates.

With the CPI, TDP and Congress affiliated outfits AITUC, INTUC, TNTUC threw their weight behind the AITUC, the CPI Assistant Secretary Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao has been taking part in the fulltime campaigning.

In support of the CPM-affiliated trade union CITU and BJP-affiliated BMS, CITU State Secretary Saibaba and BJP MLA Kishan Reddy have been campaigning.

Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy exuded confidence of TBGKS winning the elections. He mocked that the trade unions affiliated to national parties formed electoral alliance and contesting against the regional party candidates out of fear of losing the elections. He said soon an election manifesto would be released for the development of the Singareni workers.

Meanwhile, Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao was confident of defeating the TRS-affiliated trade union. So far, the workers always returned AITUC to power, he observed, adding that workers were with him.

He said the votes of the workers cannot be bought with money power. Out of fear of losing the election, Ministers, MPs and MLAs have been camping in the coal mining areas. He predicted that the workers would teach a lesson to the TRS in the trade polls.