Telangana polls: Congress buries `one family, one ticket’ norm; accommodates leaders, their kins

Hyderabad, Oct. 16: Congress has dumped its famed Udaipur Declaration of “one family one ticket” by providing two tickets to the newcomer and taking on board Ayarams and Gayarams.

Party’s first list of 55 candidates for the 119-seat Telangana assembly kicked up a furor in some constituencies and Gandhi Bhavan.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) headquarters, saw protests from party leaders who were denied tickets. There were scuffles, and protests across the State.

Mynampally Hanumanth Rao, Malkajgiri MLA, who quit Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) recently after the party denied a ticket to his son, Mynampally Rohit Rao for Medak assembly seat, had his way in the Congress.

Hanumantha Rao not only got a ticket from the Malkajgiri Assembly segment; he ensured son Mynampally Rohit got a ticket from the Medak assembly seat.

The BRS rebel leader had joined the Congress recently, probably on the assurance that he and his son would get tickets!

Hanumanth Rao created a stir by publicly accusing Finance Minister T Harish Rao of backing sitting MLA Padma Devender Reddy for the Medak Assembly ticket instead of his son, who did yeoman public service in the constituency during the Covid period.

He indulged in the character assassination of Harish Rao and threatened to quit. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao made it clear to Hanumanth Rao that it was left to him to contest from Malkajgiri or not. Rao decided to quit BRS and joined Congress.

Udaipur Nav Sankalp Declaration of May 15, 2022

“The principle of “one person, one post” should be followed. Likewise, the principle of “one family, one ticket” should also be ensured. In case another member of the family is politically active, they will be considered for a ticket only after five years of organizational experience,” the AICC Udaipur declaration says.

However, the rider of five years of organizational experience ensured two two-ticket norm goes for a toss since every party leader seeking a ticket for son, daughter, wife, brother, and close relatives will assert they are working for the party for a long time. And right connections, money power certainly matter in getting tickets.

Ex-TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy got a Huzur Nagar Assembly ticket while his wife N Padmavathi Reddy bagged a Kodad ticket. BRS turned Congress, newcomer, Vemula Veerasham got a Nakrekal SC ticket. There are many such cases.

Padmavathi had been an MLA and the one family one ticket norm doesn’t apply to her and their family.

Veteran Congress leader K Jana Reddy ensured his son K Jayaveer Reddy got Nagarjuna Sagar ticket in his place. He may contest for Lok Sabha elections.

Three Congress Lok Sabha members A Revanth Reddy (Malkajgiri), Komatireddy Venkat Reddy (Bhuvanagiri), and N Uttam Kumar Reddy (Nalgonda) got tickets to contest assembly polls.

“I understand the pain and anger of some leaders who were denied tickets. I have to follow AICC. As head of the party, I will accept bouquets and brickbats. It’s inevitable,” Revanth Reddy said over ticket Hungama.

As AICC announced the first list of candidates for the Telangana Assembly elections, there has been an outburst of anger against the party's high command and State leadership over the denial of tickets to senior party leaders.

Gandhi Bhavan was rocked by protests while many senior party leaders went public and lashed out at the TPCC president A Revanth Reddy and Congress high command for denying tickets to seniors and giving tickets to newcomers like Hanumantha Rao.

At Udaipur, Congress announced wide-ranging organizational reforms, including more tickets to those under 50 years of age and enforcing 'one person, one post' and 'one family, one ticket' rules with riders.

A senior Congress leader however clarified AICC put riders on one family, one post.

“No person should hold one party position for more than five years to give opportunity to new people. Congress decided to apply '1 person, 1 post', and '1 family, 1 ticket' rules with riders. Ticket for second family member only after 5 years of party work. 50 percent representation to those below 50 years of age at all levels of organization,” he said.

TPCC and Congress High Command drew flak from several senior party leaders who were denied assembly tickets including former APCC president Ponnala Laxmaiah.

Ponnala quit Congress and decided to join BRS. He was personally invited to a party by Municipal Administration and IT Minister K T Rama Rao after he quit.

“I decided to quit since I have no respect in the party. Respect, not post is important for me,” Ponnala Laxmaiah said.

Demand for Congress assembly tickets in Telangana State has gone up and the party and its leaders are in an upbeat mood following a big win in neighboring Karnataka State party leadership in Telangana to see winds of change for the better in the State.

Several party leaders sought two tickets. K Jana Reddy’s eldest son K Raghuveer Reddy has sought a Nagarjuna Sagar/Miryalaguda ticket while the youngest son applied for Nagarjuna Sagar.

Damodar Raja Narasimha, a permanent invitee for the Congress Working Committee (CWC), who got the Andole (SC) constituency ticket again had pitched for his daughter Trisha.

Mulug MLA Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, who got Mulugu ST ticket tried for her son Danasari Surya from Pinapaka.

Couple Konda Murali and Konda Surekha sought two tickets—Surekha for Warangal East and Murali wants a Parkal ticket.

Former Minister P Janardhan Reddy’s son, P Vishnuvardhan Reddy and sister corporator P Vijaya Reddy are vying for two tickets. Vishnuvardhan Reddy wants Jubilee Hills, while sister Vijaya Reddy is seeking a ticket for the Khairtabad Assembly constituency.

Former Secunderabad MP Anjan Kumar Yadav who got the Musheerabad Assembly ticket also wants a ticket for his son and TPCC Youth Congress general secretary Anil Kumar.

Former Union Minister Balaram Naik sought a ticket for himself and his son. The list goes on.

When the top leadership doesn't change, how can lower-level leaders change?

When the first family of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi take top slots in the party, can the lower rung leaders be denied the same privilege?

One likes it or not, Congress culture never changes, and it's in the news and limelight always!