Revanth faces political test as Left parties keep MLC options open

The Congress is facing uncertainty over support from its Left allies in the forthcoming Graduates' constituency MLC elections in Telangana, with the CPI yet to extend backing and the CPM weighing an independent contest.

Hyderabad: The Congress is facing uncertainty over support from its Left allies ahead of the upcoming Graduates’ constituency MLC elections, with the CPI yet to endorse its candidates and the CPM considering entering the electoral fray independently.

The latest developments have added to the Congress leadership’s concerns following the setback in the recent TGSRTC union elections, leaving party cadres worried about the prospects of the candidates.

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The Congress has already announced its candidates for the Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad and Warangal-Nalgonda-Khammam Graduates’ constituencies. However, the move has not gone down well with the Left parties, which are yet to announce their support.

Though the CPI is an ally of the Congress in Telangana and supported the party in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, it contested the municipal and Singareni elections independently, signalling its willingness to chart a separate course.

With the MLC elections approaching, the CPI has not officially extended support to the Congress candidates. Instead, it is exploring its options and focusing on voter registration for the elections.

Sources indicate that the CPI may join hands with the CPM to contest the MLC elections, although neither party has made an official announcement.

Meanwhile, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud approached the CPM State leadership on Friday and sought its support for the Congress candidates. However, the party has not committed itself to backing the ruling party.

Adding to the Congress leadership’s concerns, CPM State secretary John Wesley said the party was considering contesting the elections. He recalled that Prof. K. Nageshwar, who had received the party’s support, won the Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar Graduates’ constituency twice.

“We are holding discussions with other Left parties and a decision will be taken accordingly,” Wesley told Congress leaders.

The Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad Graduates’ constituency is expected to be particularly significant for Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who hails from the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district.

The constituency assumes added importance for the Congress as the party failed to win the Mahabubnagar, Chevella, Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seats despite securing a majority of Assembly seats in the State.

The absence of a clear commitment from the Left parties, coupled with the possibility of a joint CPI-CPM contest, could complicate the Congress’s electoral calculations ahead of the MLC polls.