Another rift in Telangana Congress: Backward Classes leaders in party demand 50 per cent seats

HYDERABAD /MAHBUBNAGAR: Creating further problems for TPCC leadership, which is unable to bring unity among party’s warring seniors, leaders belonging to Backward Classes (BCs) in the party have begun demanding that at least 50 per cent of seats in the next Assembly elections be allotted to their community.

A meeting of OBC leaders of the party was held in Jadcherla of Mahbubnagar Nagar district on Saturday, under the leadership of party senior and TPCC OBC  Cell chairman, J Chittaranjan Das. While indirectly targeting ex-Union minister S Jaipal Reddy and TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy, the Congress leader further alleged that an influential caste had taken control of the party affairs not only in the district, but also entire State. “I defeated TDP founder NT Rama Rao from Kalwakurthy Assembly segment during 1989 elections. Despite my seniority, the party leadership denied ticket to me during previous polls, as I belonged to weaker sections. We demand that it should give 50 pc of the total tickets to the BC community, which constitutes over 50 pc of the total population of the State,” he said.  He further said at least six Assembly seats in the erstwhile Mahbubnagar district be given to the BC  leaders. He then warned that he would sit on fast unto death if his demand is not met.

Is DK Aruna leaning towards TRS?

With Nagam Janardhan Reddy’s entry into the Congress Party certain, party senior leader and former minister DK Aruna, who is understood to be vehemently opposing Janardhan Reddy’s proposed inclusion, is said to be considering the option of joining TRS, if the situation demands in the coming days.

According to sources, some of the followers of Aruna in the district are exerting pressure on her to explore other political options including joining the TRS. “Aruna is not happy that she was not given permission to undertake a padayatra by the party high command, while permission was given to A Revanth Reddy for the same, who joined the party from the TDP. She is also unhappy over the way Nagam Janardhan Reddy is being inducted to party at the behest of ex-Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, who is her bete noire in the district,” sources said.