Hyderabad, Nov 14 (UNI) Amid ongoing demands from ticket aspirants and possible backlash from the Backward Community (BC) the Congress on Wednesday released its second list of candidates for 10 constituencies in Telangana, which will go to the polls on December 7.
Earlier, the Congress had announced candidates for 65 constituencies. So totally the party has announced candidates in 75 seats.
The grand old party is expected to contest in 94 seats in the 119 member assembly, while allotting 25 seats among its partners in Mahakutami (grand alliance).
The alliance partners Telugu Desam Party will contest in 14 seats, the Telangana Jana samithi (TJS) eight and the CPI will contest in three seats.
However, as these parties demand more seats, the Congress is forced to rethink its decision on remaining seats, party sources said.
In many constituencies, the Congress is facing rebellion from its leaders, who were seeking tickets, after seats were given to the TDP.
The party also faced wrath of the BC, consisting of more than 50 percent of the population, which complained of being ignored by all parties, including Congress.
In its first list of 65 candidates, Congress has given 13 seats to Backward Community. Miffed by the low number, All India BC Welfare Association president R Krishnaiah has called for a Telangana bandh on November 17.
In the second list of 10 candidates, the Congress has also given six seats to upper caste Reddys, which constitutes five percent of the population.
The Congress has given ticket to its BC leader and party official spokesperson Dasoju Sravan in Khairatabad constituency in Hyderabad.
The party is fielding former government chief whip Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy from Bhupalppalli, former MLAs K Lakshmana Reddy from Medchal and P Vishnuvardhan Reddy from Jubilee Hills and former MP Ramesh Rathod from Khanapur (ST).
The party also has given ticket to KK Mahender Reddy who lost thrice against Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s son KT Rama Rao in Sircilla constituency.
Interestingly, the party has not announced candidate in Jangaon seat, which was earlier decided for TJS president Prof Kodandaram, an upper caste. BC leader and the former PCC president Ponnala Lakshmanaiah is keen to contest here.
According to reports, Prof Kodandaram has declined to contest from Jangaon seat as he does not want to take away a Backward Community seat.
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