CPI Leader Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao Urges Congress to Honor MLC Seat Commitment

CPI Telangana Secretary Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao has urged the Congress to fulfill its alliance promise by allocating two MLC seats to CPI, as per their pre-election agreement.

HYDERABAD: CPI Telangana Secretary and Kothagudem MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao has called on the Congress party to honor its alliance commitment by allocating two MLC (Member of Legislative Council) seats to the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Addressing the media on Monday, Sambasiva Rao emphasized that during the formation of their alliance, the Congress had assured the CPI of one MLA and two MLC positions. In line with this agreement, he insisted that the CPI should be granted one MLC seat from the current MLA quota, with the second to follow later. “As per the agreement, Congress should allocate two MLC seats to us,” he stated.

Sambasiva Rao also announced plans to meet Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to further discuss this demand. He added that CPI is prepared to contest local body elections in areas where it has a strong presence. However, he expressed willingness to collaborate with Congress if they approach them for an alliance. “We will contest strongly in local body elections where we have strength. If Congress comes forward, we will move ahead together,” he noted.

Reflecting on past cooperation, he recalled that the CPI had supported the Congress candidate in the graduate MLC elections. Additionally, he welcomed the Congress government’s initiatives, including the caste census and Scheduled Caste classification efforts, which were undertaken soon after assuming power.

Sambasiva Rao also urged the state government to resolve RTC workers’ issues through dialogue rather than taking a rigid stance. Furthermore, he demanded a judicial inquiry into alleged encounters involving Maoists.

Earlier in the day, Sambasiva Rao, along with CPI leaders Chada Venkat Reddy and former MLA Arepalli Mohan, met Congress State President and MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud at Gandhi Bhavan. Their discussion focused on MLC seat allocation, particularly in light of the recent notification for MLC elections under the MLA quota.

The Election Commission has scheduled elections for five MLC positions under the MLA quota on March 20, with the notification issued on March 3. Given its numerical strength in the Assembly, the ruling Congress is expected to secure a majority of these seats.