Realising that dissidence and rebels would hamper its chances, Telangana Congress went into a firefighting mode to pacify them and ask them to withdraw from the race, with AICC leader K.C. Venugopal himself speaking to some of them assuring them a good political future.
The most heartburn case was that of Patel Ramesh Reddy, an aspirant from Suryapet constituency, who was denied a ticket in favour of former Minister Ramreddy Damodar Reddy. The AICC secretary Rohit Chaudhary and TPCC senior vice-president Mallu Ravi went to his residence to convince him. They were welcomed by the slogan-raising supporters of Mr. Reddy while the family members questioned them on the ‘injustice’ done to him. The leaders made Mr. Reddy speak to AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, who apparently assured him that he would be given the Nalgonda Parliament ticket in 2024.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ramesh Reddy said he felt humiliated as he had sacrificed his seat in the 2018 elections too. “The party assured me that I would be given Nalgonda Parliament ticket. So I have decided to withdraw from the race and work for the Congress candidate,” he said.
