New entrants must first work for the party before seeking tickets: VHR

 Hyderabad: Leaders who are joining the Congress are doing so due to a positive shift after the Karnataka polls, said former PCC president V. Hanumantha Rao.

“With strong candidates within the party, tickets should not be given to others. Newcomers must work for the party first,” he said.

Addressing media persons on Wednesday, he said, “Caste  Census has not been conducted after 1931. We will take Rahul Gandhi’s message to all villages on the need for a Caste Census on his birthday on June 19. BC Garjanas will also be held shortly. State Congress chief A. Revanth Reddy has met Siddaramaiah and CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has written a letter inviting him for the meet,” he said.

The Congress will win if BCs vote for us in large numbers. We are 54 per cent of the population, but our representation has been reduced due to the ‘creamy layer’ concept, the senior leader said. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao recently announced BC Bandhu with an eye on the upcoming elections, he added.