Congress to hold week-long Praja Chaitanya Yatra from November 14

Hyderabad: Congress party has decided to take up a series of protest programmes for highlighting issues undermining the interests of common people in Telangana. These include starting a week-long Praja Chaitanya Yatra from November 14.

A decision to this effect had been taken when the Political Affairs Committee of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) met at Gandhi Bhavan on Wednesday. Those present at the meeting chaired by AICC in-charge and MP Manickam Tagore included TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, PAC convener Mohammed Ali Shabbir, former PCC presidents N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and V. Hanumantha Rao.

Speaking to reporters after the PAC meeting, Shabbir Ali and AICC spokesperson Dasoju Sravan announced that meetings of mandal and district-level leaders of Congress party will be held on November 9 and 10. These will be followed by a week-long Praja Chaitanya Yatra throughout Telangana from November 14 to November 21.

Shabbir Ali said these are part of several agitations Congress is organising on issues related to farmers, podu lands and rising prices of petrol, diesel and other essential commodities. Commenting on Huzurabad results, Shabbir Ali maintained that the by-election was not a contest between political parties but a battle between two individuals – Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and former minister Etala Rajendar. While CM KCR had spent over ₹ 600 crore in the by-poll, Rajendar’s expenditure had reportedly been ₹ 300 crore, the Congress leader alleged.

AICC spokesperson Sravan alleged that Election Commission of India (ECI) ignored complaints lodged by Congress against misuse of power by ruling TRS and BJP. He said they had presented evidence of these parties distributing money and liquor. However, ECI did not take any action in ensuring a free and fair poll.