In Telangana, some senior members of the Congress party are expressing concern over the nomination of ‘carpetbaggers’ for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. They feel that this strategy is similar to the approach of the BJP and could make it easier for the BJP to win seats in the elections. After the release of the 2nd list of candidates, party members like V Hanumantha Rao have questioned the selection process, noting that some candidates are relatives of existing politicians.
For example, Gaddam Ranjit Reddy, a sitting MP who defected from BRS, was named in the 2nd list. Additionally, the wife of former Minister Patnam Mahender Reddy, Sunitha Mahender Reddy, was given a ticket to contest from Malkajgiri. Some party members feel that these choices do not reflect the wishes of the people and could demoralize the party cadre.
Critics argue that by fielding these ‘parachute candidates,’ the party is overlooking loyal members who have been with the Congress for many years. Some senior leaders have written to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge expressing their concerns and requesting a reconsideration of the candidate selection process. They believe that choosing committed and loyal party workers would be more in line with the expectations of the voters and would boost morale within the party.
