BC aspirants get a raw deal in Congress Rajya Sabha nominations

The Congress party’s Rajya Sabha nominations from Telangana have sparked discontent among Backward Class leaders, who feel sidelined despite long-standing loyalty. While many BC, SC, and ST aspirants hoped for a chance, the party leadership finalised Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vem Narender Reddy, ignoring the Udaipur Declaration norms.

Hyderabad: The Backward Classes community is continuing to get a raw deal in Telangana. After betraying the community over 42 percent reservations in local bodies, the Congress party has now neglected BC aspirants in the Rajya Sabha nominations.

In addition, loyal Congress leaders have been sidelined and a person who joined the party not too long ago has been finalised to contest the elections. In the process, the norms laid down in the Udaipur Declaration have also been set aside.

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There are two Rajya Sabha vacancies from Telangana and many leaders, especially from the BC community, had aspired for nominations.

However, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge finalised the candidature of Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Government Advisor Vem Narender Reddy for the Rajya Sabha elections. AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal issued orders to this effect on Thursday morning. Thursday was also the last day for filing nominations.

Following these orders, the hopes of several BC leaders were dashed. Former Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao, former MP Madhuyaskhi Goud, TPCC Disciplinary Committee Vice Chairman Shyam Rao Anantula and Government Advisor K Keshava Rao from the community were seen making rounds of Gandhi Bhavan.

Though Keshava Rao had already announced that he was not aspiring for a Rajya Sabha nomination, V Hanumantha Rao, Shyam Rao and Madhuyaskhi Goud made last-minute efforts. Hanumantha Rao and Shyam Rao even flew to New Delhi and lobbied for nominations, but their efforts proved futile.

Earlier, TPCC working president T Jagga Reddy had appealed to the AICC to consider the candidature of V Hanumantha Rao and Jetti Kusum Kumar, citing their seniority in the party.

Not just BC leaders, even SC and ST aspirants were sidelined in the nominations. Dommati Sambaiah and Bellaiah Naik were the frontrunners from the SC and ST communities. However, their aspirations were dashed after the AICC nominated Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vem Narender Reddy.

Along with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Vem Narender Reddy joined the Congress in 2017. He was also at the centre of the sensational cash-for-vote case. Being a close ally of the Chief Minister, the AICC approved his nomination.

As per the Congress party’s Udaipur Declaration, a person holding one position will not be permitted to hold another. Despite Vem Narender Reddy serving as Government Advisor, he has now been nominated for the Rajya Sabha elections, leaving several loyal Congress leaders in the Telangana unit fuming.