Congress list fallout: Leaders quit, others turn dissident

A big conspiracy was hatched to promote ‘parachute’ leaders and ensure the Congress loyalists quit the party, eventually affecting party’s prospects, said Somashekhar Reddy

Hyderabad: All hell broke loose, literally, within the Congress soon after the party released its first list of 55 candidates on Sunday, with party workers resorting to violence in some places, while a few leaders, who failed to get tickets, quit the party. Several others turned dissident, threatening that they would ensure the defeat of the candidates finalized by the party, including that of TPCC president A Revanth Reddy.

At Kollapur, supporters of Ch Jagadishwar Rao, who was aspiring for the Kollapur ticket, went on a rampage and vandalised the party office, tearing flexis and pulling down Revanth Reddy’s pictures. Jagadishwar Rao was denied the ticket, which instead was given to Jupally Krishna Rao, who had joined the party recently after being expelled from the BRS. The party minority cell too extended its support to Jagadishwar Rao and raised slogans against the party leadership.

---

At Gandhi Bhavan, the party headquarters in the State, former MLA Mallu Ravi’s press meet was blocked by Congress Minority Cell leaders and workers, who raised anti-party slogans alleging that tickets for constituencies in the Old City were given to people who were not related to the constituencies at all. Mallu Ravi had to leave Gandhi Bhavan stating that it was not his fault. In Medchal, supporters of Harivardhan Reddy, who was denied a ticket, almost came to blows after entering into a heated argument with supporters of Thottakura Jangaiah Yadav, whose son Vajresh Yadav was given the ticket.

In Uppal, both Ragidi Laxma Reddy and Singireddy Somashekhar Reddy, senior leaders who were expecting tickets, resigned from the party, after the ticket was given to M Parameshwar Reddy. Protesting against the party’s decision, Somashekhar Reddy threatened that he would ensure Revanth Reddy’s defeat in Kodangal.

“I was a close friend of Revanth Reddy. I was promised a ticket in 2014 and 2018 but even this time, I have been again denied a ticket. Revanth Reddy is trying to ensure BRS candidate Bandaru Laxma Reddy’s victory and not that of Parameshwar Reddy,” Somashekhar Reddy alleged, stating that a big conspiracy was hatched to promote ‘parachute’ leaders and to ensure that Congress loyalists quit the party.

“When Revanth Reddy lost in Kodangal, it was me and our workers who strived for his victory from Malkajgiri. I will ensure Revanth Reddy’s defeat from Kodangal,” Somashekhar Reddy threatened, with his supporters raising slogans saying “Revanth Reddy ko Hatao – Congress ko Bachao”.

Laxma Reddy alleged that Revanth Reddy had demanded a huge amount from him in return for a ticket. “Since I did not offer him the cash that he asked for, he has denied me a ticket,” Laxma Reddy told the media.

Another ticket aspirant from Medchal, Singireddy Harivardhan Reddy said the TPCC president had cheated him after promising him a ticket. “You have cheated me and I will see that you pay heavily for this injustice. I will announce my action plan in a few days,” he said.

Earlier in the day, posters surfaced in different places against Revanth Reddy, calling him “Ratentha Reddy” (What-is-the-rate Reddy). In one such poster, it was alleged that Revanth Reddy received Rs.58 crore from some “58 members”.