Azad does not buy Telangana Cong plea

AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad reportedly expressed his reservations at the proposal made by the Telangana Congress leaders against fielding candidate in the by-elections to the Banswada Assembly seat next month respecting the sentiment.

Mr. Azad, who was in the city to attend a private function on Sunday, spent over two hours with the Congress leaders first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad and later at a luxury hotel in Hitec City.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, APCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana, former PCC president D. Srinivas, and Zaheerabad MP Suresh Shetkar met him. Telangana MPs — Madhu Yaskhi and S. Rajaiah, Ministers Danam Nagender and Basavaraj Saraiah, former Minister Md. Ali Shabbir and APCC general secretary G. Niranjan and others met him at the airport lounge.

It is understood that Mr. Shabbir reportedly broached the issue of Banswada by-polls where Pocharam Srinivas Reddy was being projected as an independent candidate. He is said to have pointed out that the Telangana TDP Forum had already announced its decision not to field candidate. Mr. Shabbir is believed to have pointed out that the Telangana Congress leaders were also of the same view.

A senior Congress leader quoted Mr. Azad as telling the delegation that it would not be proper to back an independent candidate when the high command was holding consultations with the Seemandhra and Telangana leaders on the statehood issue. However, Mr. Shetkar under whose constituency Banswada segment falls had a separate one on one meeting with Mr. Azad.

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