T’gana oppn alliance rocked by feud over nominations

HYDERABAD: Chaos reigned in Maha Kootami —the grand alliance of four opposition parties in Telangana — as constituent parties accused each other of violating the seat pact by fielding candidates in constituencies allotted to others for the December 7 assembly election.

As nominations came to a close on Monday, the Congress, which was allotted 94 out of 119 constituencies, gave “B” forms to six more candidates in constituencies allotted to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS). A ‘B’ form indicates party support for a candidate, who files the A form in an individual capacity.

The six doesn't include party rebels who have filed nomination as independents in several other constituencies. In Ibrahimpatnam constituency in Ranga Reddy district, the Congress fielded former MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy by giving him the “B” form early on Monday. The seat, as per the pact, was allotted to TDP, which had fielded its official candidate Sama Ranga Reddy.

In Patancheru under Sangareddy district, the Congress fielded Kata Srinivas Goud,

CONG, TDP, TJS LOCKED IN BLAME GAME FOR BREAKING SEAT PACT BY FIELDING CANDIDATES IN CONSTITUENCIES GIVEN TO OTHERS FOR THE DECEMBER 7 ELECTION

while the seat was originally allotted to the TDP. The TDP, which was originally given 14 seats in the alliance, opted out of the contest.

Similarly, in Miryalguda — allotted to the TJS — the Congress named former TDP MLA and All India OBC Welfare Association president R Krishnaiah as its candidate, hours after he joined the party. The TJS has fielded Vidyadhar Reddy from this constituency.

In Dubbak, allotted to the TJS, the Congress gave the “B” form to Maddula Nageshwar Reddy. The TJS has fielded its candidate Chindam Raj Kumar. In Medak, where TJS has fielded candidate Janardhan Reddy, the Congress gave the B form to A Upender Reddy. In Warangal (East), the Congress gave the “B” form to Vaddiraju Ravichandra, though TJS has announced the candidature of Gade Innaiah.

The TJS has also fielded its candidates in Asifabad, Khanapur and Chennur which were allotted to the Congress and also in Mahbubnagar and Ashwaraopet allotted to the TDP. In all, the TJS has fielded candidates in 12 constituencies, as against originally allotted eight seats.

A senior Congress leader who refused to be named said the party was forced to field candidates in constituencies allotted to others to be safe. “There have been reports that the candidates by the TJS and TDP in these constituencies are weak and sure to lose. Hence, we fielded our candidates,” he said.

TJS president M Kodandaram, who has been appointed as Maha Kootami convenor, said it was unfortunate that the Congress did not honour the spirit of alliance. “We hope the issue will settle down before November 22, the last date for withdrawal of nominations. In any case, it should be not be a problem for the People’s Front in its fight against the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.” Congres spokesman Guduru Narayan Reddy said nominations by part candidates in the constituencies allotted to other parties was only part of a back-up plan. “It happened mostly in seats where TJS candidates were found out to be weak as per latest surveys.”