HYDERABAD: The Congress party has decided not to allocate a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) seat to the Communist Party of India (CPI) in the current elections.
This decision was conveyed to the CPI leadership, clarifying that while the party acknowledges the alliance’s significance, internal competition for MLC seats has led to this outcome.
CPI leaders, led by State Secretary Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, had recently met with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and PCC Chief Mahesh Kumar. During these meetings, the CPI delegation requested the fulfillment of previous assurances, which included one MLA and two MLC positions as part of the alliance’s terms. They emphasised the importance of allocating one MLC seat under the MLA quota in the current elections, with the expectation of another MLC seat in subsequent opportunities.
However, due to the prevailing political dynamics and internal considerations within the Congress party, it has been indicated that accommodating the CPI’s request in the current MLC elections is not feasible. The Congress leadership has assured the CPI that opportunities will be provided in the upcoming vacancies. Specifically, one MLC seat under the Hyderabad Local Authorities Constituency is expected to become vacant in August this year, and two more MLC seats under the Governor’s quota are anticipated to be available in September. The Congress has committed to considering the CPI for these positions as they become available.
This development has caused some dissatisfaction among CPI members, who were hopeful of representation in the current legislative council through the alliance with Congress. The CPI is now evaluating its position and strategies in light of this decision, while the Congress emphasises its commitment to honoring alliance agreements in future opportunities.
