Parties rev up activities

Hyderabad: Though there are no elections round the corner, the State is witnessing a sudden spurt in political activity. The main Opposition Congress which held a brainstorming session in a private hotel on Tuesday has decided to implement ‘Mission 2019’ in an organised and aggressive manner. The BJP has started holding constituency-wise padayatras and not to be left behind, IT Minister K T Rama Rao is busy addressing meetings at various places across the State and has been lashing out at the nearly six decades of Congress rule.

Amidst this scenario, the six-hour-long brainstorming session by senior Congress leaders assumes significance. The meeting introspected on its failures and decided to go aggressive. It felt that it could not win over the confidence of the people as it has been confining its activities more to hold press conferences rather than going aggressive on issues against the government. It also felt that it had failed to enthuse the workers at the grass root level.

The issue of dissent in the party is also said to have figured in the meeting and it was decided that clear signals should be sent to the cadre that they are all one and all out efforts should be made to put up a united fight. During the meeting, the party indulged in introspection about its failure to cash in on various public issues.

They felt that the party leaders should now get into action and not confine themselves to press conferences. Senior leaders like Jaipal Reddy and others emphasised that until and unless activism is reflected at ground level, people would not favour the party in the next elections.

The party, according to TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, has already identified about 70 constituencies and unlike in the past, they will announce the names of candidates much ahead of elections. The local leaders have been told to strengthen the party at grass root level and show results if they want party ticket. The manifesto will be offering solutions to the local problems if voted to power.

Uttam said the TRS government was misusing the police force to harass the Congress leaders and workers. He said the Congress party would launch ‘Jail Bharo’ campaign if the police failed to mend its approach towards the Opposition parties. Regarding shifting of Dharna Chowk from Indira Park, he said a massive agitation would be launched in consultation with other Opposition parties and groups.

On the other hand, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is keen to make inroads into the old city areas of Hyderabad. It even proposes to contest the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat which is represented by AIMIM president Assaduddin Owaisi. “If we could win in Muslim bastions in UP, we can win here as well,” said State BJP president K Laxman.

The BJP national president Amit Shah who is slated to come to Hyderabad on April 7 would be visiting slum areas and will hold meeting with local leaders and will review the poll prospects booth wise. He will be visiting the State frequently. Meanwhile, the BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy held a padayatra in Barkatpura area.

In a counter move, Rama Rao held a meeting at Tandur on Monday and at Mahbubnagar on Tuesday and is making all out efforts to ensure that the plenary of the party and the public meeting would nullify the efforts of Opposition parties.

By V Ramu Sarma