Revanth Back in Action; Eyes Poll Strategy
CM orders rebel withdrawals as B-form deadline nears for February 11 elections
Hyderabad: Hours after returning from a 14-day visit to Davos and the United States, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy convened a crucial Congress Election Committee meeting on Monday to finalise candidates and issue B-forms for the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for February 11.
With the deadline for submission of B-forms expiring at 3 pm on Tuesday, the meeting assumed significance amid intense competition within the party. More than 9,600 Congress candidates have filed nominations for 2,996 wards across Telangana, averaging over three aspirants per ward.
Revanth Reddy had set a target for party leaders to win over 80 per cent wards in the municipal polls.
Concerned over the risk of vote-splitting, the Chief Minister directed ministers, MLAs and local leaders to ensure withdrawal of nominations by rebel candidates so that only one authorised Congress nominee remains in the fray in each ward. He instructed leaders to begin issuing B-forms from Monday evening and complete the process by 10 am on Tuesday.
The meeting, held via Zoom, was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Cabinet ministers, TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud and AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan. Party leaders were reminded of setbacks in the recent Gram Panchayat elections, where multiple Congress-supported candidates contested without party symbols, resulting in losses in nearly 500 gram panchayats to the BRS and BJP.
Revanth Reddy emphasised that the municipal polls, to be fought on party symbols, were far more critical and urged leaders to secure withdrawals before the deadline. He assured that rebels persuaded to withdraw would be considered for recognition and government-nominated posts in the future.
The Chief Minister also announced an intensive campaign programme from February 4 to 9, covering all districts. He will address public meetings at Miryalaguda, Choppadandi, Nizamabad Rural, Pargi, Bhupalpally and Medak, highlighting the achievements of the Congress government, addressing local issues and energising the party cadre ahead of the polls.