Hyderabad: The Congress will release its second list of candidates for the Telangana Assembly polls after its leader Rahul Gandhi completes the first phase of the bus yatra on Friday. Speculation is rife that the second and third lists will throw up a few surprises. It is learned that all the 119 candidates will be declared in three lists by October 25.
Party sources said that the second list is expected by October 22 and is likely to name 50 candidates. The Congress released its first list of 55 on October 15.
Sources said the second list was initially supposed to be released by October 19 but the party postponed it fearing protests by those who were denied tickets. The first list triggered protests in a few constituencies. The party also does not want to divert the attention of people and media from the bus yatra.
Suspense continues on who will be contesting against Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao from Kamareddy, where former minister Shabbir Ali has been contesting for long.
The Congress leadership appears to be keen on fielding K. Madan Mohan Rao, who lost the Zaheerabad Lok Sabha seat in 2019. There is also speculation that the party may field TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy along with his Kodangal constituency.
