We are a team, says Telangana Congress leaders

The Telangana Congress Leaders on Tuesday sent a strong message that they were part of a team which would unitedly fight the forthcoming elections for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

"We are a team and now all suspicions, apprehension and speculations be put to rest. We are going to contest the next GHMC elections in a vigorous manner and will emerge victorious," said the Congress leaders in not only a joint, but 'giant' press conference on Tuesday. The press conference was addressed by over a dozen senior leaders including Leader of Opposition in Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir, TPCC Working President Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Greater Hyderabad Congress president Danam Nagender, Rajya Sabha MP V. Hanumantha Rao, ex-MLA Marri Sashidhar Reddy, Ranga Reddy District Congress president Kyama Mallesh, former minister P. Sabitha Indira Reddy and others.

Earlier, Danam Nagender chaired the meeting of 25-member Greater Hyderabad Congress Election Committee to finalise the strategy for GHMC elections. During the meeting, several aspects related to GHMC elections were discussed. The Congress leaders expressed concern over deletion of over six lakh voters, improper enumeration of BC voters and discrepancies in delimitation of municipal wards. It has been decided to pursue the legal cases which are going on different courts on these issues.

TPCC President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the TRS Government was trying to influence the election process by creating problems which were never heard of. He directed all party men to enter the campaign mode on immediate basis.

Addressing the press conference later, the leaders claimed that the Congress was the strongest party in the Greater Hyderabad due to its widespread cadre base. Shabbir Ali said that the previous Congress regime had spent over Rs. 1 lakh crore for the development of Hyderabad from 2004-2014. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Nehru Outer Ring Road, PVNR Expressway and several other projects including the first phase of Godavari drinking water, which reached Hyderabad a few days ago, were initiated during the Congress regime. However, the TRS Government is trying to take credit for Congress schemes, he said.

Ridiculing the claims being made by Panchayat Raj Minister K. Tarakarama Rao of State Government overcoming power crisis, Shabbir Ali challenged KTR and other TRS leaders to prove if they have generated even one MW of power. There is no power crisis due to drop in demand in the agriculture sector. Of nearly 20 lakh pumpsets, only 4 lakh are now operational, he said.

During the meeting it has been decided to immediately constitute division-level and booth-level committees and launch simultaneous campaign across 150 divisions. Danam Nagender informed that the campaign would be launched on Wednesday itself which happens to be the birthday of AICC President Sonia Gandhi. A rally will be taken out from Pandit Nehru Statue at Abids to Mahatma Gandhi Statue in Secunderabad to collect relief for the rain-hit victims of Nellore and Chennai.