New Delhi: The Congress party on Friday announced its screening committee for Telangana with former MP Bhakta Charan Das as its chairperson.

The other two members of the committee are Jothimani Sennimalai and Sharmistha Mukherjee. The announcement was made by party General Secretary Ashok Gehlot.The opposition parties including Congress, Telugu Desam Party and Communist Party of India joined hands to form a grand alliance to take on the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi in the ensuing Assembly elections.

The Telangana Assembly was dissolved on September 6, paving way for an early election in the state.

The other day, social activist and T-MASS leader Prof Kancha Ilaiah announced at a press conference that erstwhile revolutionary singer and former Maoist ideologue Gaddar would contest against Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in Gajwal assembly constituency as an independent with the support of all Bahujans.

He also declared that another revolutionary singer Vimalakka would contest against K T Rama Rao in Sircilla.Though Vimalakka denied this announcement saying she had not taken any decision yet, Gaddar did not make any comment.

On the other hand, he met senior Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao on the same day and held discussions with him, lending credence to the speculations that he is preferring to contest on the Congress ticket.

His son Surya Kiran is already in the Congress and so, there is no surprise if Gaddar also prefers to contest on the Congress ticket. However, he would be a consensus candidate of the Maha Kootami to fight against KCR from Gajwel.

The Kondagattu bus accident is declared as the biggest bus mishap ever recorded in India. 60 passengers who were travelling in the bus lost their lives while they were returning after offering special prayers at the Kondagattu Anjaneya Swamy Temple.

While an enquiry is underway to find out if the tragedy took place due to human error, more conspiracy theories are emerging in the local media. Carcasses of 60 monkeys were found in the Surampeta Mango farm in Kodimyala Mandal 4 days ago.

Monkeys are said to be an incarnation of Lord Anjaneya Swamy. Local villagers opine that the killings of 60 monkeys must have angered Anjaneya Swamy which in turn resulted in the loss of 60 innocent lives 2 days after the monkeys were found dead. A chilling coincidence is that the accident occurred on Tuesday, which is considered a favourite day for Lord Anjaneya.

Amidst speculations that the list of 105 candidates announced by KCR could slightly changed given uproar, defiance from other aspirants, KCR has personally telephoned 30 candidates and inquired about the campaign details. While a few brought the defiance they’re facing in the constituency and even the reports of changing candidates to his notice, KCR told to have clearly stated that there wouldn’t be any changes in the announced list.

KCR asked the candidates to begin the work and asked them to mingle with people and start campaigning for the party. He said that elections could happen anytime and the dates, notification would come shortly. KCR asked the candidates not to wait till B-Forms and Election Commission’s Notification. He told candidates to go out of their homes by 6 AM and asked them to be with the people till the evening. He told them to even have lunch with the local people.

Even as there is a dissent in party among a section of leaders, KCR said he would take care of the issues and told them to work for the party. KCR even inquired the candidates where they are and with whom they are when he had called. This sets the tone and mood for the coming elections in Telangana. And the Opposition’s grand alliance too making swift moves to counter KCR’s strategies.

Congress leader Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has stated that TRS will not even win a single seat in the Southern Telangana. Komatireddy claimed that Congress is stronger in the Southern part of the Telangana and stated that Congress would clean sweep the South Telangana.

Komatireddy also made shocking comments against the TDP and Maha Kutami. He stated that TDP has no vote base in Telangana and stated that the alliance with TDP wouldn’t favour the Congress in the state. He stated that he would meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi and would explain him in detail against the alliance. He said even if there is a grand alliance, Komatireddy stressed that Congress shouldn’t allot more than 10 seats to the alliance partners.

Komatireddy said KCR has failed to explain to people on why he is going for early elections. The Deputy Floor Leader of Congress said that KCR doesn’t have a proper answer to it. Confident Komatireddy said that Congress would storm to power and the party is ready to fight elections anytime.

AICC President Rahul Gandhi summoned 50 Telangana Congress leaders including all senior most leaders, former PCC Chiefs and CLP leaders to attend the brainstorming meeting in New Delhi on Friday.

All the leaders left for Delhi on Vinayaka Chaturthi day. The meeting assumed political significance following the creation of Mahakutami comprising Congress, TDP and CPI to fight jointly against KCR in the ensuing elections.

Rahul will finalise the committees mainly Congress election campaign committee , Manifesto committee and the seats to be alloted to TDP and left party as part of pre poll alliance with Congress. Revanth Reddy, Komati Reddy and DK Aruna will be given big responsibility to ensure the victory of Congress .

Rahul will review the entire political situation in Telangana post the dissolution of state assembly on September 6. kCR decided to go elections alone.