The dissension among BC leaders is growing after the successful meeting between the Telangana Kammavari Rajakiya Aikya Vedika, led by Renuka Chowdhary, and top AICC leaders in Delhi. BC leaders had previously tried to meet with AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders in Delhi but were unsuccessful. However, Renuka Chowdhary was able to lead the Vedika’s leaders to meet Kharge, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, and even Rahul Gandhi. This has resulted in dissatisfaction among BC leaders who were not part of the delegation.
The BC leaders have claimed that Kammas can influence many constituencies in Telangana and are requesting at least four seats in the City, including L B Nagar, Kukatpally, Serilingampally, and Jubilee Hills. They are also seeking seats in Banswada, Sirpur Kagaznagar, Miryalguda, and Khammam. Renuka Chowdhary and others who met with Kharge and Venugopal have also claimed to have met Rahul Gandhi.
However, BC leaders who were unable to secure appointments with these leaders earlier this month are concerned that they may be further sidelined due to these recent developments. It is being said that the number of seats available for BC leaders has been reduced from the initially proposed 34 to around 25 in the Assembly elections, which has upset the leaders. Some leaders question how tickets can be given to those who have not even applied. They highlight that while Kammas, who traditionally supported TDP, make up only 5% of the population, BCs comprise a significant portion.
To address the concerns of BC leaders, PCC working president B Mahesh Kumar Yadav stated that the party and Rahul Gandhi are supportive of BCs. He mentioned that there are 30 to 40 segments where BCs have a good chance of winning and they are demanding that BCs be given tickets. The screening committee will make a decision on this soon.
