NEW DELHI: Completing the task of hyping up its pitch as a viable alternative to the ruling BRS, the real Telangana battle for Congress comes now with the finalisation of the second list of candidates, with insiders expressing concern that a choice skewed in favour of “outsiders” could spoil the mood of the loyal support base and the new voters who are gravitating towards the party.
A serious debate is on in Congress in the wake of large-scale induction of former MLAs from BRS. While the flood of new entrants have helped the optics of projecting Congress as being a serious player, partymen are worried if they would also be given poll nominations in line with their expectations. Congress is likely to come out with the list of remaining 64 candidates by Thursday.
The argument against “indiscriminate” nomination of “outsiders” is that Congress workers have over ten years in the opposition fought BRS and would not be enthused by the prospect of having to work for the leaders who recently joined the party. The same is being said about the loyal voters and youth. Also, it is being said that since the new entrants lost on BRS symbol in last polls, why should they be given tickets by Congress.
But the contending argument is that over the decade of party’s marginalisation in the state, with its tally coming down to seven MLAs, Congress does not have winnable candidates in most constituencies. To fill that gap, defectors can be a good short-term alternative.
The tussle seems to have figured in the Congress meetings, and partymen are learnt to have told the leadership that in a close contest, few seats will make the difference.
A serious debate is on in Congress in the wake of large-scale induction of former MLAs from BRS. While the flood of new entrants have helped the optics of projecting Congress as being a serious player, partymen are worried if they would also be given poll nominations in line with their expectations. Congress is likely to come out with the list of remaining 64 candidates by Thursday.
The argument against “indiscriminate” nomination of “outsiders” is that Congress workers have over ten years in the opposition fought BRS and would not be enthused by the prospect of having to work for the leaders who recently joined the party. The same is being said about the loyal voters and youth. Also, it is being said that since the new entrants lost on BRS symbol in last polls, why should they be given tickets by Congress.
But the contending argument is that over the decade of party’s marginalisation in the state, with its tally coming down to seven MLAs, Congress does not have winnable candidates in most constituencies. To fill that gap, defectors can be a good short-term alternative.
The tussle seems to have figured in the Congress meetings, and partymen are learnt to have told the leadership that in a close contest, few seats will make the difference.