Sonia Gandhi tells Revanth Reddy she will consider contesting Lok Sabha polls from Telangana

When Revanth Reddy met Sonia Gandhi, he requested her to contest the Lok Sabha from Telangana and reminded her that the Telangana PCC had already requested her for it.

Revanth Reddy was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy.

Interestingly, Vikramarka’s wife Nandini and Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy’s brother Prasad Reddy are eyeing a Congress ticket for Khammam, in case Sonia Gandhi declines to contest from there.

The party has received about 306 applications from aspirants for the 17 Lok Sabha seats. Revanth is expected to be in attendance when the PEC considers them on Tuesday.

Also read: Telangana Cong passes resolution urging Sonia to contest from state

Why Sonia from Telangana?

The chief minister explained to Sonia Gandhi that the people of Telangana were grateful to her for creating the state, and wanted to show their gratitude by electing her to the Lok Sabha.

Sonia Gandhi reportedly told Revanth Reddy that she would consider his suggestion.

Revanth Reddy is keen on getting Sonia Gandhi to contest from Telangana — particularly from Khammam — as her presence there would have a positive impact on the Congress nominees in other Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, making the job of winning the maximum number of seats easier for the party.

As the party is on an upward trajectory in the state, Revanth Reddy appears keen on striking the iron while it is still hot.

He wants to confine the BRS to the fringes so that it would be a party of no consequence, which serves the Congress’ interests better.

As the BJP is still a party not capable of rising to the level of challenging the Congress, the chief minister sees potential danger in the BRS remaining strong for the existence of the Congress.

Revanth Reddy is aware of how powerful KCR is even when he is out of power and wants to pull out all stops to see that the BRS does not make any gains in the Lok Sabha polls.

His recent outbursts and combative stance against the BRS are indicative of this intention to cut the BRS down to size using his power as the chief minister and his oratory to unnerve the BRS cadres.

Also read: Mallikarjun Kharge warns Telangana CM against designs of BJP

Revanth’s other pursuits

The chief minister explained to Sonia Gandhi how his government had implemented two of the six guarantees immediately after coming to power, and how he proposed to introduce two more — the supply of LPG cylinders at ₹500 each and free power supply of up to 200 units to households.

He also apprised the party’s matriarch how the free bus travel scheme for women had become a huge hit in the state, with 14 crore women travelling in them.

The chef minister utilised his stay in Delhi to call on Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Beri and sought his intervention for the release of ₹1,800 crore in grants that are due to the state from the Centre.

He also sought help in getting a loan for the Musi Riverfront Project from the World Bank, among others.

He reminded Beri of the need for the release of the grants under the backward areas development head, guaranteed by the AP State Reorganisation Act of 2014.

కేంద్ర ప్ర‌భుత్వం నుంచి తెలంగాణ‌కు రావ‌ల్సిన గ్రాంటు రూ.1800 కోట్లు వెంట‌నే విడుద‌ల‌య్యేలా స‌హ‌క‌రించాల‌ని @NITIAayog వైస్ ఛైర్మ‌న్ శ్రీ సుమ‌న్ భేరీకి ముఖ్య‌మంత్రి శ్రీ @Revanth_Anumula విజ్ఞ‌ప్తి చేశారు. న్యూఢిల్లీలో నీతి ఆయోగ్ వైస్ ఛైర్మ‌న్‌ను ముఖ్య‌మంత్రి శ్రీ రేవంత్ రెడ్డి… pic.twitter.com/UgchwyXfee

— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) February 5, 2024