On Sunday, the Congress high command announced the candidacy of three individuals—Addanki Dayakar, Kethavath Shankar Naik, and actor-turned-politician Vijayashanthi—for the upcoming biennial elections to the MLC under the MLAs quota. Additionally, AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal stated that the party has decided to allocate one seat to the CPI as part of their alliance.
Considering the strength of the MLAs in the assembly, the Congress is positioned to secure four seats, while the BRS is likely to win one. The selection of Vijayashanthi as a candidate came as a surprise to many, including members of the Congress party. A senior leader from Gandhi Bhavan remarked, "This announcement has certainly taken us aback," noting that the senior leader had not been actively participating in party activities and had maintained a low profile in recent months.
Leaders from various communities expressed their intention to participate in the MLC elections under the MLAs quota. Former Member of Parliament Anjan Kumar Yadav emphasized the need for prioritizing the Yadav community, asserting that any oversight in this regard would be unacceptable.
Additionally, the names of former Indian cricket captain Mohd Azharuddin and Feroz Khan, a candidate for the Nampally MLA position, circulated within Gandhi Bhavan among potential candidates from the minorities’ quota. Nevertheless, the Congress high command chose not to nominate any candidate from the minority community.
Although former Minister Mohd Shabbir Ali has been appointed as an Advisor to the State government, there remains a strong demand from minority groups for the inclusion of a representative from their community in the cabinet or the allocation of an MLC seat. With the announcement of candidates for the MLC elections, minorities are now hopeful for representation in the forthcoming cabinet expansion.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)