Lakshmana Venkat Kuchi
The Congress is sure that Karnataka effect will rub off in the forthcoming Telangana assembly elections too as also in Andhra Pradesh, the two Telugu-speaking states from where it was banished after the state’s bifurcation.
Positive signs are visible on the ground in Telangana, where the party is witnessing home coming of former leaders who joined either the ruling BRS or the BJP.
Recently, the entire unit of BRS (CM KCR’s party) in Khammam joined the Congress party, boosting the morale of the Congress workers who are hoping for a change in fortune after the party’s huge victory in Karnataka.
The Congress party central leadership has summoned the Telangana leaders and office bearers for a meeting to discuss poll strategies and the issue of how to deal with the requests of former Congress leaders who want to return home.
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According to party sources, few leaders from the BJP are also said to be toying with the idea of considering the Congress. But all these issues will be discussed with the central leadership on Monday. The Telangana delegation is likely to meet former party president Rahul Gandhi as well.
There are indications on the ground of an understanding between ruling BRS and the BJP. Congress is working on a strategy to cash in on the anti-incumbency sentiments.
Incidentally, Congress state unit chief Revanth Reddy has been very active on the ground and is trying to lure leaders back to the fold to strengthen the party.
People are also responding to the Congress positively, especially after the very successful Bharat Jodo Yatra, sources said.
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The election victory in Karnataka has only come as another booster of workers’ sentiments. The Congress has already deputed Karnataka leader and deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to guide the Telangana team also in the forthcoming assembly elections.
Incidentally, he has also managed to rope in YS Sharmila, daughter of former AP CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy and sister of current Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy. She may consider merging her party with the Congress, and is expected to meet Rahul Gandhi sometime in the near future, sources said.
In Andhra Pradesh, the Congress is for making a promise of granting special category status to the state, a demand that has been ignored by the central government during the past several years
Incidentally this promise was made by Rahul Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. “Whether or not the people of Andhra vote for the party, the Congress government when it forms then government at the centre will honour this promise,” Rahul Gandhi said.
The Congress can also try and accommodate one of the party leaders from Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka where four seats are falling vacant, to strengthen the party in Andhra Pradesh.
In Telangana, the Congress ceded ground to the BJP after its leaders quit and joined the ruling party or the BJP. In the previous assembly elections, the Congress won 19 assembly seats but 12 of the party MLAs shifted to ruling party.
Incidentally, the state Congress chief Revanth Reddy began his career in student politics with the ABVP, the student wing of the BJP, and joined the Congress in 2017 and since then has seen meteoric rise in the party. Although he lost in assembly elections, Revanth won the Lok Sabha seat from Malkajgiri.
Political analysts in the state feel that Congress will revive at the cost the BJP. Congress party sources are sure that senior BJP leader, Eatala Rajendar, will be joining the Congress shortly.
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