As the nominations for the Assembly polls end on Monday, the Congress got mixed response from the rebels and aspirants as it tried to convince them not to harm the prospects of the party candidates.
The three member team of Puducherry Chief Minister Narayana Swamy; Karnataka Irrigation Minister D.K. Shiva Kumar and Puducherry Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao met nearly 50 aspirants at a private hotel and successfully convinced some of them while the others made their point clear to the committee but did not promise to keep out of the electoral fray.
Those who met the committee included Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, aspirant from Khammam, Palvai Sravanthi, aspirant from Munugode constituency, Naini Rajender Reddy of Warangal West, Thotakura Jangaiah Yadav of Medchal, Malreddy Ranga Reddy of Ibrahimpatnam and leaders from all the districts.
Further meetings
TPCC treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy, who coordinated with the candidates said some of them assured the team that they would abide by the party’s decision if they were promised better future. The team will be in the city till Monday evening to meet the aspirants further.
Mr. P. Sudhakar Reddy was peeved at being denied ticket but said he would not be in the fray as an independent. Mr. Rajender Reddy said he should get the party ticket from Warangal West as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) cannot win there at any cost. He has already filed his nomination.
Ms. Sravanthi said she was satisfied after the meeting and would talk to her followers.
A team of Osmania University students too met the committee and expressed their displeasure at being ignored.
The committee members are reported to have promised the students with suitable rewards once the government was formed.
Shashidhar Reddy
Mr. Marri Shashidhar Reddy, who went to New Delhi after receiving a call from senior leader Ahmed Patel, is likely to return on Sunday night.
He said he conveyed to the high command that Sanathnagar ticket should be given to him and the TDP can be shifted to Secunderabad constituency.
Mr. Reddy, however, said he would not contest as an independent candidate or retire from politics.