Date:25/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/25/stories/2008042554230500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Congress: seniors express discontent

Staff Reporter

Party surprises the district cadre by choosing two new faces for Siddipet and Dommata

Sangareddy: Even though the Congress party surprised the district cadre by choosing two new faces, B. Anjaiah Mudiraj, Deputy Superintendent of Police Gadwal and a social worker Manohar Rao for Siddipet and Dommata respectively, the seniors are hoping against hope that the high command would chose an experienced hand for Ramayampet.

They met in-charge Minister Mohammad Fariduddin to express their discontent and to put pressure on the party for a positive announcement in favour of former legislator Vithal Reddy.

Despite the initial setback the cadre in Siddipet hope that the candidature of Anjaiah would help garner the Mudiraj votes, who constitute more than 12 per cent of the Assembly segment. Meanwhile the battle lines are clearly drawn in Dommata with all the three major parties confirming their candidates, former Legislator Solipeta Ramalinga Reddy (TRS), Manohar Rao (Congress) and Cheruku Mutyam Reddy (TDP).

All the three candidates belong to the Dommata Assembly segment and are known to their pro-Telangana stance. Manohar Rao earlier tried nomination in the last Assembly election as a TRS worker and Cheruku Mutyam Reddy has been a staunch supporter of the cause despite his affiliation with the Telugu Desam Party.

With the success of the Chief Minister’s ‘Praja Patham’ in Ramyampet recently the Congress cadre is hoping to cash on the positive mood of the people by selecting the right candidate.