Cong sends Puducherry CM to cajole Telangana dissidents

HYDERABAD: Concerned over the developments leading to large number of dissidents in the Congress, the central party high command today sent a three-member team headed by Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy to Telangana, which met several “rebel front” leaders in the city.

Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, November 18

Concerned over the developments leading to large number of dissidents in the Congress, the central party high command today sent a three-member team headed by Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy to Telangana, which met several “rebel front” leaders in the city.

They prevailed upon the dissidents to give up their plans to contest as Independents. After the meeting, senior Congress leaders said “They (dissidents) have been assured that they would be suitably accommodated once the Congress forms the government with the help of the Maha Kutami (grand alliance) partners”. The two other members of the team delegated by the Congress high command are Karnataka’s Irrigation Minister DK Shivakumar and Puducherry’s Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao.

Sources said they appeared to have had some success, but it will take some more time to ensure that all 40-odd dissidents did not contest against the official party nominees. The nomination for the December 7 election comes to an end tomorrow (November 19) and withdrawals can be made till November 22.

The coming week is expected to see the poll campaign pick up in Telangana with several top national leaders arriving here to address rallies. These include former Congress president Sonia Gandhi who is expected to address a political rally on November 23, a day after withdrawal of nominations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah are also expected to address rallies this week. The Congress is also preparing for a joint rally by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu sometime next week.

This will be Sonia Gandhi’s first visit to Telangana after the state came into being in 2014. She will address a public meeting at Medchal on the periphery of Hyderabad. Rahul Gandhi is expected to campaign in the state on November 28, 29 and December 3.

Many in ticket race

At least 90 ticket aspirants are disappointed at not being able to get the ticket, a senior Congress leader said. He said a three-member committee will stay put in Hyderabad till the withdrawal of nominations. It is expected to meet 40 to 50 dissidents.