Anxious aspirants lobby hard with Diggy

Despite a three-hour-long meet with AICC general secretary, Congress seems to have no idea as to whom to field

Hyderabad: The Congress which has taken the Warangal LS bypoll as a litmus test is still struggling to find a suitable candidate. Despite a three-hour long meeting, no clear picture has so far emerged. With the frontrunner G Vivek, who was also said to have been preferred by the high command, not showing any inclination towards contesting the bypoll, other aspirants intensified their lobbying.

The AICC general secretary in charge of state affairs Digvijay Singh, who came here to assess the situation and submit a report to the high command, met party leaders from State to mandal level and sought their opinion on each of the aspirants. The party has already got some surveys done whose reports were also handed over to Digvijay on Thursday.

The party leaders are said to be insisting on giving ticket to only local candidate and not an outsider. It may be mentioned here that former minister Sarve Satyanarayana is also in the race. Satyanarayana had represented the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency in undivided Andhra Pradesh. He is staking his claim based on his caste factor. Even Vivek is said to have supported Sarve.

According to sources, Vivek who was also present during the meeting had disclosed Digvijay that he was not interested to contest the polls. His contention is that since he does not belong to Warangal, he may not be acceptable to the people. Even his caste factor might go against him. Vivek belongs to Mala community, while the Madiga community is more predominant in Warangal constituency.

Earlier during the day, the followers of Vivek held a meeting at his house and resolved that he should contest. Following the disinclination shown by Vivek, Sarve Satyanarayana intensified his lobbying. Satyanarayana belongs to Madiga community. He tried to demonstrate his show of strength before Digvijay Singh by coming to Gandhi Bhavan with large number of his followers who shouted slogans demanding that he be given the ticket.

The former minister is also learnt to have told Digvijay that AICC president Sonia Gandhi has always been kind to him. Soon after he was asked to leave the meeting hall, the Congress leaders told his followers not to raise slogans.

Meanwhile, the local leaders from Warangal are understood to have told the AICC general secretary that the party should pick up only a local candidate and should not trust someone from outside. They are said to have told Digvijay that if the party picks up an outsider, there could be serious problem as the party workers in the district may not cooperate.

Meanwhile, Digvijay left for Delhi on Thursday evening and would submit a report to AICC president Sonia Gandhi on Friday. However, party insiders say that the high command would again try to convince Vivek, but if he still refuses it may choose Sircilla Rajaiah, former Warangal MP or Sarve Satyanarayana, who is known for his oratorical skills. Rajaiah is the likely choice if the party decides to give a chance to the local candidate.