Congress to roll out ‘unity bus’ in poll run-up, eyes Karnataka rerun in Telangana

HYDERABAD: Replicating its Karnataka campaign model in Telangana, Congress is all set to roll out its poll juggernaut on a jumbo bus, which proved to be its vehicle of unity and electoral clincher in the neighbouring state. The grand old party’s decision to launch a bus yatra straddling 100 assembly seats of Telangana, comes close on heels of walkathons by state Congress president A Revanth Reddy and legislature party leader Bhatti Vikramarka.
Poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu, who projected Congress as a united house in Karnataka, has suggested a 150-day bus yatra in Telangana to cement its unity and make inroads into the grassroots. The programme schedule would be released by month-end or first week of July.
Though infighting is not uncommon in Congress, the party image took a beating after some senior leaders opposed appointment of a newcomer, Revanth Reddy, as PCC chief and some quit the party.
The bus yatra will be a show of unity with veterans, loyalists, seniors and newcomers slated to be onboard. The idea is to cover at least 100 of 119 constituencies in 100 days with key leaders touring their turf.
“Senior leaders, including Revanth Reddy, Bhatti Vikramarka, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, K Jana Reddy, V Hanumanth Rao, Md Ali Shabbir will be part of the bus yatra. The party plans to flag off the bus by either Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi so that seniors and newcomers come together and project a united face to the party high command,” said a senior AICC leader.
The Gandhi siblings will review progress of the bus yatra and participation of seniors and newcomers every week. They will tour Telangana and release declarations, which includes its promises for OBCs, women and minorities.
Congress star campaigner Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, who had raised a banner of revolt against Revanth, met Sonia and Priyanka Gandhi on Friday. “I told them that we are working as a team. I discussed the political situation in Telangana and urged that at least one Gandhi family member should tour Telangana once in 10 days. They should cover 33 districts before the assembly polls,” he said.
Venkat Reddy also requested the Congress brass to ensure that 70% of the candidate list is finalised before the poll notification. “Gandhi family members’ tour to Telangana is likely to be fixed after July 7,” he said, adding that Team Telangana is ready to hit the hustings and bring Congress to power on the lines of Karnataka.
Political analysts said a show of unity through a bus yatra would be crucial for Telangana Congress leaders to instil confidence in voters and cadre.