by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Enthused Congress pitches Sonia in Telangana poll campaign
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Nov 21
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi may have stayed away from poll campaign in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. But she has decided to address at least two major rallies in Telangana.
Enthused by the internal surveys conducted by two professional agencies and ground reports emanating from the state, Sonia Gandhi has given nod to campaign. Though she has been keeping away from active politics ever since Rahul Gandhi took over as Congress president. But there is a growing demand for the “Amma” from the Congress candidates. The Congress candidates argue that Telangana was carved out as a separate state by Sonia Gandhi when UPA was in power and her appeal is greater than that of Rahul Gandhi in the state.
Secondly, the newly forged ‘grand alliance’ comprising of the TDP, CPI, Telangana Jana Samithi headed by KCR’s former ally Kodandaram and Congress, is clawing its way up despite the ruling party’s early start to the campaign. These parties contested separately during 2014 Assembly polls and the TRS emerged victorious with 63 seats in the Assembly of 119.
The Congress secured just 21 while the TDP bagged 15 seats. The TDP was then, however, partner with the BJP, which secured 5 seats. The All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) secured seven and others 8. The grand-alliance can take solace from the fact that the vote share of the TRS in 2014 polls was only 34.30% while the Congress got 25.20% and TDP polled 14.70%. The coming together of Congress-TDP-CPI-TJS will give State Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao run for the money.
It is this assessment of the Congress that made Sonia Gandhi to campaign in the state. The fact that more and more leaders are deserting the TRS including the sitting Lok Sabha MP, Vishweshar Reddy indicates that all is not well in the state for the ruling TRS.
Ends
