Congress pushing TJS to its limits

Hyderabad/ Warangal: The talks on seat sharing between the partners of the proposed alliance have stalled for the past few days as the Congress is not yielding to the demands the Telugu Desam, CPI and Telangana Jana Samithi.

As the TJS is asking for a bigger share, the Congress is in a dilemma over the seat sharing and using the delay tactics to bring pressure on that party. Unless the number of seats to be given to the TJS is finalised, there is no chance for knitting together the alliance.

The Congress Pradesh Election Committee has met again on Wednesday and did not decide on the number of seats to be left to the alliance partners. It has confined itself to short listing of its own candidates.

PCC working president Ponnam Prabhakar told The Hans India that the PEC has not come to an agreement on the seats to be given to the alliance partners. He said that the committee has discussed the probable candidates of the party.

He said that the PEC has met for the third time on Wednesday and the AICC Screening Committee members too have attended it. He said that the Screening Committee members have individually held discussions with PCC leaders.

Prabhakar said that the Screening Committee members would continue the consultations with the PCC leaders in the next two days. They would be given the list of the Congress candidates by the PEC, he said.

According to sources, the stalemate on the seat sharing between the alliance partners has taken place due to the demands of the TJS. The TJS has proposed a formula of 20+15+4, -- 20 seats to it, 15 to TDP, 4 to the CPI and rest to Congress. It has urged the Congress to contest in 80 seats.

On the other hand, the Congress is not willing to concede more than 19 seats to alliance partners and is firm on contesting in 100 seats. However, the Congress is ready to give one or two more seats to TD and TJS. According to party leaders, the Congress is proposing a formula of 12+6+3 -- 12 seats to TDP, 6 to TJS and three to CPI. The TJS is not accepting to this formula and seeking as many 15 seats in the least.

Meanwhile, the alliance partners have begun another round of talks on Wednesday evening. The leaders are trying to come to an understanding on the seats so that the alliance takes a shape.

A few leaders said that the Congress wants to bring pressure on the TJS on yielding to 12+6+3 formula. It has been deliberately delaying the announcement of number of seats to the TJS so that it comes under pressure.

The Congress wants to throw blame on the TJS if the alliance along with that party fails to take shape. Initially, it was given to understand that TJS chief M Kodandaram has set his eyes on Warangal West or Jangaon to contest.
However, the Congress circles say party's guard Naini Rajender Reddy is seriously in the race for the ticket.

Recently, former MLA Vem Narender Reddy, said to be close associate of TPCC working president A Revanth Reddy, made it clear that he was also in the fray for Warangal West ticket.

While this is so, former TPCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah’s followers claim that it is ridiculous to think of someone contesting from Jangaon constituency. With Ponnala Lakshmaiah who won the seat four times – 1989, 1999, 2004 and 2009 – has already started his campaign in Jangaon constituency. Finally, Prof Kodandaram is left with Mancherial in his native district, but it also seems a remote chance with the local leaders strongly opposing his candidature.

With senior Congress sitting MLA T Jeevan Reddy, who won six times from Jagtial, T-TDP president and former MLA L Ramana is in a piquant situation to claim the ticket. Although it was speculated that he will be given the ticket of neighbouring Korutla constituency, Ramana seems to be adamant on Jagtial. It was also speculated that he may be offered a seat in Hyderabad where TDP has a stronghold.

CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy is exerting pressure on his alliance partners to allot Husnabad seat for him, claiming that Communists have strong support in parts of erstwhile Indurthi constituency (which is no more after 2009 delimitation) which are now in Husnabad segment. It may be mentioned here that Chada Venkat Reddy won from Indurthi seat in 2004.

But the Congress is not ready to ignore the candidature of former MLA Aligireddy Praveen Reddy who command a huge support in the constituency. He is also the chairman of the Mulkanoor Cooperative Rural Bank and Marketing Society Limited, said to be a guiding light in cooperative movement, with its members spread across 14 villages of both Bheemadeverapalli and Elkathurthy mandals that come under Husnabad constituency.