Scrutiny turns tricky, Uttam walks out
PNS|Hyderabad
The Telangana Congress Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) meeting held to scrutinise the applications of Assembly ticket applicants was held on a serious note on Tuesday at the Gandhi Bhavan here.
The meeting was held to scrutinise the applications the TPCC had received from ticket hopefuls for the Assembly elections.
However, the leaders expressed anger over many issues. It is learnt that a verbal duel took place between former TPCC President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and TPCC Working President B. Mahesh Kumar Goud when Goud raised the ‘two tickets for one family’ issue.
Reacting to Mahesh Kumar Goud’s comments, Uttam asked him to reveal the need to discuss the issue now. Uttam also asked Goud to reveal who they are aiming at through the discussion, it is learnt.
Intervening in the discussion, Revanth said that the high command will take care of the tickets’ issue. However, Uttam asked Revanth to explain the two tickets issue to the high command.Revanth then asked Uttam not to dictate things to him and an angry Uttam left the meeting hall.
Meanwhile, senior leader V. Hanumantha Rao asked the meeting to reveal how many seats the party will give to BCs and where that will be. He asked the party to give more tickets to SCs and STs.
Intervening, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said that some leaders have to sacrifice seats for the sake of BCs. He said that he is ready to sacrifice his seat for BCs and that the party should not shortlist the 1,006 applications now. The party must hold a meeting with PEC and the Screening Committee, he said.
Former Union Minister Renuka Choudhary asked the meeting to reveal how many seats the party will give to women. She asked the meeting why it is not revealing how many tickets it will allocate to women. She also asked the PEC members to recommend one woman’s name for every ticket.
Former Union Minister Balaram Naik lashed out at the statement that tickets will be issued based on surveys and asked the party about the need for accepting applications.
TPCC Working President T. Jagga Reddy said the meeting discussed the strengths and caste equations of candidates.
The process of selecting candidates will be completed in 10 days, he said. Jagga expressed anger over comments that the agents of other parties have infiltrated the Congress.
The meeting decided to announce the party’s first list of candidates with 40 to 50 seats for BCs, SCs and STs. The party received 1,006 applications for 119 seats.
The PEC will meet once again on September 2. The party will hold a meeting of the PEC and the Screening Committee. The members of the Screening Committee will stay in Hyderabad for three days.
The Yellendu constituency got 38 applications but Kodangal and Jagtial received only a single application.
The meeting decided to write a letter to AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge to hold the firs CWC meeting in Hyderabad.
