CONG PANEL FINALIZES 119 CANDIDATES

HYDERABAD, OCT. 28

The Congress screening committee chaired by Mr Bhakta Charan Das finalised a list of 119 candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections on Sunday and sent it to the AICC for final verification. The list will be announced by November 1 after completing seat adjustments with the Prajakutami allies.

While the list has 119 names, candidates allotted to the seats that will go to the Prajakutami will be dropped. TPCC leaders, who met last week with coordinators of all constituencies, said everyone should to be ready to sacrifice their seat if needed. The party will give preference to such leaders for nominated posts after the Congress government is formed.

TS Congress affairs incharge R.C. Khuntia had sent a voice mail to 4.5 lakh people through Shakti App for taking feedback on candidates and received replies from 2.2 lakh people, it is said.

The committee completed its task after meeting leaders of constituencies and senior leaders of the party. Aspirants from various constituencies met the screening committee until the last minute to try their luck. The Kamma Sangham sought at least 5 to 6 seats for the Kamma community, saying that they amounted to 2.5 percent of the Telangana population. They stated that their community could influence about 25 Assembly constituencies.

Congress leaders from Malkajgiri staged a protest at Gandhi Bhavan, demanding that the seat not be allotted to the TJS.