The fight for the Congress ticket in the Warangal East constituency for the upcoming Telangana Assembly elections is getting intense. Former minister Konda Surekha, Warangal DCC chief Errabelli Swarna, and former Warangal in-charge Syed Azmathulla Hussain are already in the race. Now, a non-resident Indian named Pradeep Kumar Samala, who lives in New York, has joined the competition. Pradeep Samala is an entrepreneur and founder of several IT companies, as well as being involved in community service programs in the US and India for the past 25 years.
Pradeep Samala has launched various organizations like the North American Padmashali Association (NAPA), Global Padmashali Association (GPA), and the SJP Foundation based in Warangal. He is also actively involved in organizing medical camps, business seminars, career guidance for students, and campaigns on drug and alcohol abuse and road safety. He played a major role in the Statehood Movement by forming the Telangana Development Forum in the US and mobilizing support from NRIs.
Pradeep Samala is one of the working presidents of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) headed by Sam Pitroda. He caught the attention of Rahul Gandhi during the latter’s visit to New York in June by mobilizing a large gathering. Pradeep Samala also participated in Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and TPCC chief A Revanth Reddy’s Hath Se Haath Jodo Yatra. He successfully organized Bharat Jodo Yatra from Times Square to Mahatma Gandhi in New York, gathering a thousand-odd Indian origins.
Pradeep Samala expressed his inspiration from Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and his decision to enter active politics. He believes that his experience in community service will help him serve the people if given the opportunity. Some senior politicians from the Warangal East constituency believe that emerging leaders like Pradeep Samala are needed by the people. They also mentioned that the constituency has a large number of Padmashalis, which Pradeep Samala belongs to, giving him an advantage. With his direct connections to Rahul Gandhi, Pradeep Samala is considered one of the frontrunners for the Warangal East ticket.
