Congress to set up panel to select poll candidates

TPCC Chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy is very confident on Congress winning around 80 seats in the assembly elections. He has decided to take a decision on alliance after talk with party senior leaders.

After Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao hinted at early polls, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) is also moving fast to face the elections.

TPCC has also taken up the exercise to announce Congress candidates in the month of September.

KCR has already announced that he will announce party candidates in September. TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy is very confident on Congress coming to power in Telangana after the elections. He is expecting around 80 seats in the assembly elections and same report has submitted to high command.

TPCC chief has decided after discussing with party senior leaders to take a decision on alliance.

It may be recalled that Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that PCCs have given freedom on alliance with other parties at local level. There are speculations that Congress may have an alliance with the Telugu Desam.

After discussions with party seniors TPCC may start discussions with other political parties on the alliance.

Meanwhile, Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday announced several sops to various sections to attract in the elections.

Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy said if Congress is voted to power that the eligibility age to get pensions will be reduced from present 60 years to 58 years.

He also said that the Aasara pension’s amounts also will be increased surely. Pensions for old aged, widows, single women, weavers and toddy tappers will be increased from `1,000 to `2,000 and the pension for physically challenged persons from `1,500 to `3,000 per month.