Rebel trouble for Congress

Mahabubabad: It's going to be a hard ride for the Congress in Mahabubabad Lok Sabha constituency with its choice of candidate setting off rebellion. Since the Congress had announced former Union Minister Porika Balram Naik as its candidate, several tribal leaders, especially the Adivasis have come out in open opposing it.

The disapproval is not just from Adivasis, but also from the Lambada community to which Balram Naik belongs to. The leaders say that Balram Naik, who lost 2014 Lok Sabha election and recent Assembly election contesting from Mahabubabad seat, doesn't deserve another chance.

They pointed out that Congress did well in the recent Assembly elections by winning four segments – Bhadrachalam, Pinapaka, Yellandu and Mulugu – out of the seven in Mahabubabad Lok Sabha constituency.

Even though Haripriya Naik of Yellandu constituency and Rega Kanta Rao of Pinapaka shifted loyalties to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), such defections will not have any impact on the Congress' traditional vote bank, but there is an imperative need for the leadership to be cautious in selecting the candidate, the leaders argued.

On the other hand, the simmering conflict between the Adivasis and Lambadas also known as Banjaras that was triggered in Adilabad Agency last year. It may be recalled that Adivasis have been demanding removal of Lambadas from ST category as they were deprived of their own community jobs, quotas and other opportunities.

The Adivasi leaders say that Congress betrayed them by allotting both the Scheduled Tribe (ST) reserved seats – Mahabubabad and Adilabad – to Lambada community.

Speaking to The Hans India, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee member and Adivasi leader Chimala Venkateshwarlu said: "It's unfortunate that the Adivasis continue to be on the receiving end with the leadership turning a blind eye to their demands.

The same thing happened in 2014 general elections. Even though the Adivasis outnumber Lambadas, both the seats – Mahabubabad and Adilabad – were given to the Lambadas which is indigestible." He demanded the Congress leadership to have a rethink over the candidature or else he was forced to jump into the election fray. According to Venkateshwarlu, population of Adivasis in Mahabubabad constituency is 3.40 lakh while Lambadas constitute 2.60 lakh.

Meanwhile, All India Adivasi Congress vice-chairman Tejavath Bellaiah Naik, who aspired for Mahabubabad ticket, is also under pressure from his followers to contest as a rebel. It's said that he has the support of several Lambada organisations and all of them pitching for his candidature. Bellaiah Naik, who is also the founder of Lambada Hakkula Porata Samithi (LHPS), said: "I am under immense pressure from my cadre to get into the poll fray."