Seethakka standing firm amid adversity

Warangal: Sabotaging others’ chances seems to be order of the day. With the Congress-led Maha Kutami is yet to finalise the seat sharing rigmarole, the aspirants within the party are leaving no stone unturned to stake their claim strongly for the tickets.

All India Mahila Congress General Secretary Seethakka alias Dhanasari Seethakka, a strong favourite for the Mulug ticket, is up against the guiles of her own party members. Since Seethakka joined the Congress from the Telugu Desam last year, it has been touted that she is sure to get Mulug ticket. Then it was also reported that the Congress high command had promised Seethakka in this regard. Seethakka from militant backdrop to public life who fought for the cause of Adivasis has been regarded as firebrand politician. She began her political life with the Telugu Desam in 2004.

Although Seethakka lost election in that year, she came back strongly to win Mulug constituency in 2009. Even though Seethakka lost 2014 election, she continued her tirade against the Congress and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Due to changed political scenario in Telangana, Seethakka and another former TDP MLA of erstwhile Warangal district Vem Narender Reddy switched to Congress along with A Revanth Reddy. Soon Seethakka was appointed as the All India Mahila Congress general secretary by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

Against this backdrop, the speculation is rife that party leadership has asked her to contest from Bhadrachalam (ST Reserved) constituency to make way for former MLA Podem Veeraiah who won the seat in 1999 and 2004. A section of Congress leaders argued that Seethakka who contested on TDP ticket in 2014 not only lost the election but also stood behind Podem Veeraiah, while Azmeera Chandulal won the seat.
It may be mentioned here that Bhadrachalam seat was won by Sunnam Rajaiah of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 2014 election. It is said that the Congress wants to field a strong candidate who can challenge CPI-M in its den. This apart, it is said that Seethakka’s militant backdrop would help her during the campaign to reach out the Adivasis.

Speaking to The Hans India, Seethakka who is intensively campaigning in Mulug constituency, said: “I don’t know how all that speculation is doing rounds. Whether it was intentional or something else, I am not bothered about it. The Congress high command gave me assurance to field from Mulug when I joined the party.” She said that no one in right mind would ask her to contest from Bhadrachalam as she has to start from scratch.

Meanwhile, so far Seethakka covered quite a few villages in her constituency as part of her poll campaign. Both Seethakka and Vem Narender Reddy are said to be close followers of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Working President A Revanth Reddy and it is certain that the latter would throw his weight behind them to fetch tickets for them. It may be mentioned here that Vem Narender Reddy kept his hopes on Warangal West ticket.