Congress second list for Telangana in a day or two; CEC to meet on Wednesday

In the first list announced on October 15, the Congress announced the names of as many as 55 candidates, a combination of new faces, defectors and seniors

The second list of candidates of the Congress for the November 30 Telangana assembly elections is expected to be released in a day or two, party leaders familiar with the development said.

In the first week of November, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will also address a series of rallies in Telangana, party leaders said. (PTI)

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee working president Mahesh Kumar Goud said the Central Election Committee (CEC) of the All-India Congress Committee would meet in New Delhi on Wednesday to finalise the selection of candidates.

“The CEC will take into consideration all factors before approving the list of the candidates proposed by the PCC screening committee. Its decision is final,” Goud said, adding that in all probability the list would be declared in a day or two.

Admitting that there have been requests from various quarters for the party tickets, Goud said the party would pick up the winnable candidates. “There have been representations from minorities for the allotment of party tickets in Adilabad, Nizamabad and Mahbubnagar seats. The Congress will definitely do justice to minorities who, we are sure, on the side of the party,” he said.

Another senior Congress leader familiar with the development said on condition of anonymity that the CEC of the party was likely to finalise the names for all the remaining 60 seats, besides four seats to be allotted for the Left parties – two each to the Communist Party of India (CPI) and CPI (Marxist).

In the first list announced on October 15, the Congress announced the names of as many as 55 candidates, a combination of new faces, defectors and seniors. “But the announcement of the second list of candidates is a bit tricky, as several seniors who were left out in the first list have to be accommodated,” the party leader quoted above said.

Among those whose names did not figure in the first list include Madhu Yashki, Ponnam Prabhakar, Md Shabbir Ali, Mahesh Kumar Goud, Tummala Nageshwar Rao, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Malreddy Ranga Reddy, who are waiting with their fingers crossed.

“Besides, there has been tremendous pressure from OBCs. In the first list, out of 55 candidates, only 12 were OBCs and among them, five were given tickets in Old City of Hyderabad where they have absolutely no chances of winning. In the second list, the OBCs are hoping to get at least 22-25 seats,” the party leader said.

AICC secretary Mansoor Ali Khan said the CEC of the Congress was still looking into a lot of equations before finalising the candidates. “I request the ticket aspirants not to jump to conclusions and make statements that would affect the party’s interests. If they have any reservations, they should discuss within the party forums and not in public,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PCC working president said the party was gearing up for a huge public meeting at Kollapur in Nagarkurnool district on October 31. “It will be addressed by AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. In the first week of November, Rahul Gandhi will also address a series of rallies in the state,” he said.