After convincing Suryapet rebel Ramesh Reddy to withdraw his nomination, with the promise of an LS ticket, leaders Mallu Ravi and Rohit Chaudhary were attacked by his supporters.
Published Nov 15, 2023 | 11:53 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 15, 2023 | 11:59 PM
Congress rebels Patel Ramesh Reddy, Gali Anil Kumar, and Janga Ragavareddy. (X)
The Congress leadership heaved a sigh of relief on Wednesday, 15 November, with most rebel candidates withdrawing their nominations from the Assembly elections after hours of persuasion and cajoling by party leaders.
As Wednesday was the last day for the withdrawal of nominations, tensions peaked as the clock ticked on and the rebels refused to back off.
The party leaders offered them everything under the sun. Egos satisfied after relentless pleadings by the leaders, the rebels finally fell in line.
There was high drama in Suryapet as TPCC leaders Mallu Ravi and Rohit Chaudhary coaxed Congress rebel Patel Ramesh Reddy, who filed his nomination papers as an All India Forward Bloc candidate, to withdraw from the fray.
The Congress leaders faced the ire of his supporters, who threw stones at the room where they were holding talks with Ramesh Reddy. At one point, they tried to lock the two leaders out for what they considered was a great betrayal.
Ramesh Reddy stood his ground for a long time, insisting that it was official candidate R Damodar Reddy who should step away from the contest.
When he did not heed their request, the Congress leader spoke to party general secretary KC Venugopal, MP Uttam Kumar Reddy, and TPCC president A Revanth Reddy, eventually promising Ramesh Reddy a ticket from the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat.
The two emissaries also showed him a letter in which Uttam Reddy recommended Ramesh Reddy’s name for the Nalgonda constituency. The letter was addressed to Rohit Chaudhary, with a copy to Telangana in-charge Manikrao Thakre.
Ramesh Reddy relented after seeing the letter, but broke down while explaining to reporters that he filed his nomination papers as a rebel.
However, as soon as Chaudhary and Ravi emerged from Ramesh Reddy’s residence, his supporters manhandled Ravi for the denial of a ticket to their leader. They entered into an argument with him while a few others pushed him around.
Though one of Ravi’s confidants tried to prevent them from reaching him, he was not successful. Ravi and Chaudhary left the place after the scuffle.
Later, Congress leaders said that those who heckled Ravi were not Ramesh Reddy’s supporters, but were those of the BRS who panicked that the chances of the BRS nominee — Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy — had become slim with the withdrawal of Ramesh Reddy. However, BRS leaders said they had nothing to do with it.
The Congress leaders also succeeded in getting rebels in Ibrahimpatnam, Jukkal, Banswada, Dornakal, Warangal West, and an independent in Jubilee Hills to withdraw their nominations. All of them were leaders of some substance.
They pacified them with offers of Lok Sabha tickets, MLC nominations, and appointments to nominated posts, including chairpersons of several government-owned corporations.
In Ibrahimpatnam, it was Dandem Ram Reddy who was giving sleepless nights to Congress nominee Malreddy Ranga Reddy. With persuasion, he withdrew his nomination papers.
In Jukkal, rebel Gangaram withdrew, while in Banswada, K Balaraju, who attempted suicide after learning that he had not been allotted a ticket, finally fell in line and withdrew his nomination papers. It must have come as a great relief for the official candidate and former MLA Eanugu Ravinder Reddy.
In Narsapur, TPCC vice-president Gali Anil Kumar, who filed nomination papers as a rebel, resigned from the Congress. The party’s official candidate is Avula Raji Reddy.
Anil Kumar took out a massive rally to file his nomination papers. His supporters waved Congress flags and banners as if he was the official candidate. After resigning, he told reporters that he would soon reveal which party he would join.
In Dornakal, Nehru Naik Malothu withdrew his papers, relenting to the requests of the party leaders to step out and support official candidate Jatoth Ram Chandru Naik.
Congress rebel Janga Ragavareddy withdrew in Warangal West, much to the relief of official candidate Naini Rajender Reddy.
In Jubilee Hills, Naveen Yadav, who filed his nomination papers as an independent, withdrew his nomination papers and declared his support to the party’s official candidate Md Azharuddin and joined the Congress. Naveen Yadav’s decision brightened the prospects of Azharuddin.
