CONGRESS TO PLAY THE BC CARD

The beleaguered Telangana Congress is now looking to play the BC card.

The party is reportedly seriously thinking of appointing a BC as working president.

Besides TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, the party nominated Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, an SC, as its working president.

Sources told DC that the Congress high command has sought the opinion of senior party leaders who are said to be favourably inclined to the idea. The move to woo BCs is part of the Congress efforts to revive and recover lost ground in TS.

“It’s true. Congress high command is seriously considering nominating a BC as working president in addition to a Reddy and SC. BCs are a dominant caste in Telangana. The party had a BC chief but suffered setback since Reddys were upset and kept away. Reddys dominate politics in Telangana even today but other major communities like BCs, SCs, STs and minorities cannot be ignored,” a senior party leader said.

The source said the party high command also took note of attempts by TD MLA R. Krishnaiah to float a new party for BCs which could further damage the Congress.

Asked about the probable names for the post from BCs, he said the names of Anjan Kumar Yadav, D. Nagender and others are in the reckoning.

After replacing Ponnala Lakshmaiah, a BC, as party chief, there has been murmurs in the party that BCs were being ignored. Telangana Congress is battling on two fronts, defections from party and losing in electoral battles.