Medchal/Hyderabad (Telangana), Nov 23 (UNI) After the initial hiccups like ticket distribution and seat allocation among allies, a resurgent Mahakutami (Grand Alliance), led by the Congress, will take up the campaign in full swing on Friday, with a public meeting attended by the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Telangana, which goes to the polls on December 7.
Ms Gandhi, along with AICC president Rahul Gandhi will address the rally, which is expected to be attended by four lakh people, at Medchal, around 30 KM from the state capital Hyderabad, at 6.30.
“We have made all the arrangements for the rally to become a grand success. After all it was Sonia Gandhi, as UPA chairperson and the Congress president at that time, who made the Telangana state a reality. We expect Ms Gandhi’s address to help the alliance gain the confidence of the people”, said AICC secretary-in charge Srinivasan Krishnan.
According to Congress leaders, Ms Gandhi had promised to create a separate Telangana state in 2004 and she fulfilled it before the UPA’s second tenure ended in 2014.
However, the Congress party was devastated in the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana region in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
In Telangana, K Chandhrasekhar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won 63 seats and went on to form the government, the Congress could has bag only 21 seats. Following this, several Congress MLAs defected into TRS in the last 4 years.
The Congress is contesting as part of the alliance comprising Telugu Desham Party (TDP), Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the Communist party of India (CPI) in the assembly election.
The public meeting by Ms Gandhi and Congress president would also provide a joint platform for top leaders of the alliance.
The Grand Alliance convener and TJS leader Prof Kodandaram, CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy, and the Tealangana TDP president L Ramana are expected to share stage with the Congress leaders.
While Karnataka Minister DK Sivakumar is entrusted to oversee the arrangements, party working president Revanth Reddy is responsible to make the rally a success. Mr Reddy is camping in Medchal for last two days, said Congress leaders.
Ms Gandhi will reach Begumpet airport in a special aircraft by 5 PM and Rahul Gandhi will join her 15 minutes later as he is coming from Bhopal.
They will travel to public meeting venue around 5.30 and both will address the gathering from 6.30 to 7.30 PM and will leave for Delhi at 8 PM.
It is the first public meeting organised by the Congress after creation of the new Telangana state.
The Congress top brass are expected to attack the KCR government on the false promises made before the state creation.
Mr Gandhi is also expected to campaign in several areas in Telangana at the end of November.
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