Will Tummala’s ultimate entry into Congress polarise Kamma votes in favour of Congress?

• A Telugu newspaper owner moves earth and heaven to confirm Palair ticket for Tummala
• Even Sharmila is convinced on Palair seat for Tummala
• Former minister Mandava will also join Congress soon
• Ten BRS corporators in KMC may join Congress before elections
• Ponguleti and Tummala create doubt of BRS winning even a single seat  in erstwhile Khammam district

Former minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, who worked as minister for thirteen years in TDP and TRS regimes, is a typical politician. It is not easy to understand the style and functioning of the former minister to the present generation journalists. Unlike the other politicians, the humility and gentleness are never visible in his statements and gestures. There have been various occasions when he caused pain to his close associates with his undemocratic vocabulary. Tummala used to tell the scribes that he will relate to the rural people and not very comfortable to the urban voters.

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The former minister had not reconciled to the fact that BRS chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao had ignored him by refusing to field him from Palair. Then, Tummala decided to shift his loyalties to the other parties. Frankly speaking, the politician is not very good at lobbying in favour of himself. After convincing himself that he should join the Congress, how to approach the party leaders was a question. The present TPCC chief A Revanth Reddy is a sub-junior to him in politics. K Phani Kumar, a journalist said, “I was very much a witness to Tummala  entering the chamber of Chandrababu Naidu, then chief minister, without knocking the door. Revanth Reddy used to give due respect to him whenever Tummala encountered. It is difficult for Tummala to ask for Revanth’s favour”.

Tummala explained his mind to the vernacular Telugu daily owner, who has been  his friend from the latter’s tenure as a reporter. It was enough. Tummala joining in Congress and getting confirmation on Palair ticket was over in two days. Such was the clout the newspaper owner enjoys with the Congress leaders, especially Revanth Reddy. According to sources, the newspaper owner took up the issue with the TPCC president A Revanth Reddy and Sunil Kanugolu, AICC’s psephologist. Sunil created a favourable atmosphere for Tummala at AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and Manikrao Thakre, TPCC in-charge. Finally, the issue was placed before Rahu Gandhi. YS Sharmila was also convinced on Palair seat. She was promised a proper position in Congress by AICC leader Sonia Gandhi. Revanth Reddy discussed the issue with D K Sivakumar, deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, who has been closely involved in Telangana Congress affairs. Revanth himself went to Tummala’s residence to invite him into the Congress. Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and Bhatti Vikramarka, two important leaders in the Congress and who hail from Khammam district, also called on Tummala at his native place to express their solidarity with him. That completed the formalities paving way for Tummala joining the Congress probably on 17 September 2023 at the public meeting to be addressed by Sonia Gandhi and Kharge on the eve of the AICC Working Committee meeting in Hyderabad.

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AICC was convinced that Kamma community will be in favour of Congress in the next elections with the entry of Tummala and Mandava Venkateswara Rao into the party. The community leaders hqve been reeling under the feeling that they did not get due respect in the BRS regime. Sources said that ten corporators and some of the sarpanches in erstwhile Khammam district will join the Congress before elections. (eom)

Also read: Has BRS made self-goal on Congress meeting at Khammam?