Hyderabad: BC leaders in the Telangana Congress are demanding one-third of seats for leaders from Backward Castes. The Gouds, who hold key positions within the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), are ensuring they get their fair share despite the State leadership bringing in heavyweights from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), especially from the Reddy community. This is in response to a recent resolution for proper provision of seats to BCs.
Party sources reveal that top leaders such as Madhu Yashki, Ponnam Prabhakar, and B Mahesh Kumar Goud are aspiring to contest in the Assembly elections and leading the campaign within the ranks due to concerns about their prospects. They fear losing to Reddys, some of whom recently joined.
Former PCC chiefs V Hanumantha Rao and Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who represent other castes, are in Delhi to meet AICC chief Kharge and other leaders, awaiting their appointment. Ponnala aims to contest from Jangaon, and VH is supporting R Laxman Yadav, PCC general secretary for the Amberpet seat.
Madhu Yashki, who heads the campaign committee, and Ponnam and Mahesh, who were former NSUI leaders, are likely to get tickets but remain apprehensive. Madhu Yashki is facing trouble from local contender J Prabhakar Reddy in LB Nagar, who questions his credentials as a non-local. Ponnam, aiming for Husnabad, is challenged by former MLA A Praveen Reddy, who recently returned to Congress from BRS.
Husnabad is also being sought by CPI as part of the alliance. In Nizamabad urban, Mahesh Kumar remains a top contender for the ticket but faces a challenge from the family of senior D Srinivas, including former mayor D Sanjay.
