Congress foresees turnaround in Lok Sabha elections

Warangal: Although the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) made a head start in electioneering a bit early, the Congress appears to have paced up its campaign very well especially since the TRS faced a setback in recent Council polls. It was indeed like lemonade in this hot summer for the Congress, which is wilting under the pressure exerted by the TRS since 2014 elections.

Congress candidate for Warangal Lok Sabha constituency Dommati Sambaiah, a cop-turned-politician, who squeezed out some time amid his busy schedule, spoke his heart out to The Hans India explaining the intricacies of electioneering and his prospects.

You seem to be buoyant?

Yes, especially since people taught a lesson to TRS in the recent Council elections. This is the beginning of the TRS fall. As great Abraham Lincoln said, "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." People now started to realise the true colours of the TRS.

Tell us about your campaigning?

It's going very well. We have been facing problems with some of the officials, who are under the impression of the ruling TRS. Even though the Returning Officer for Warangal Lok Sabha constituency and Urban District Collector Prashanth Jeevan Patil is upright and affable, some of the lower cadre officials made us to make rounds to get permissions for campaigning vehicles.

What about the support you get from senior leaders?

The Parliamentary constituency in-charge Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy has been in the forefront of coordinating all the senior leaders in the erstwhile Warangal district. All the in-charges of seven Assembly segments under Lok Sabha constituency are cooperative during the campaigning. I already covered the constituency extensively and observed the change in the mood of people who supported TRS in the Assembly elections.

What are the advantages you have, going into this election?

Everyone in the erstwhile Warangal district is well aware of the fact that I joined politics to serve the people. I quit my job (Inspector in Police Department) in 2004. Despite initial setbacks, I never looked back and I chose to work for the people.

Tell us why people should vote for Congress?

It's apparent that TRS MPs have totally failed to take the problems faced by the people to the notice of the Parliament. They didn't exert pressure on BJP-led Central Government to achieve the promises incorporated in the AP Reorganisation Act-2014. The TRS has always been hand in glove with the BJP. The TRS supported BJP-led government's decisions like Goods and Service Tax (GST), Demonetisation that broke the back of the common man. Moreover, what the TRS can do at the Centre even if it wins 16 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. Issues that dominate Assembly and Lok Sabha polls are different.

What is your opinion on TRS, which claims that it had developed Telangana?

Take the case of Warangal. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao promised Rs 300 crore each year for the development of Warangal. However, not even a single developmental work was completed so far.

The disadvantage you have in this election?

I don't have money bags like the candidates of other parties. Yet, I predict that there would be a turnaround in the April 11 polls.