Rahul, Priyanka to flag off Congress bus on October 18

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are likely to flag off the Congress bus yatra on October 18 from the Kondagattu temple in Jagtial district, after having darshan of Lord Hanuman. The yatra will then enter Nizamabad district.

The party high command wants to declare the candidates prior to commencement of bus yatra, and is likely to do so on October 16. The Congress’s central election committee (CEC) met in New Delhi on Friday and finalised candidates for 60 Assembly constituencies out of the total 119.

It is learnt that the Congress high command will discuss the possibility of having alliance with the Left parties in Telangana on Saturday. Once clarity emerges, the Congress will complete the selection of candidates for the remaining seats.

After the CEC meeting, AICC screening committee chairman K. Muraleedharan, Kerala MP, confirmed to the media that the CEC has finalised 60 candidates. Asked when the Congress would declare the list, he replied: "Anytime after October 15." He did not specify whether the party would announce all candidates at once or in phases.

To a question on whether the list will be released prior to the



launch of the bus yatra or after, he replied, "The list will be out prior to the launch of the bus yatra."

The CEC meeting chaired by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge deliberated on the shortlist of the Muraleedharan-led committee, and finalised the candidates where there are one or two aspirants. In the remaining 59 constituencies, where there are multiple aspirants, the CEC has decided to meet again and finalise the candidates.

Rahul Gandhi was present in the CEC meeting along with TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and MP N.Uttam Kumar Reddy.

Congress MLA T. Jeevan Reddy, who is seeking ticket from Jagtial constituency, said, "We have received information from party high command that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will launch bus yatra at Kondagattu Anjaneya Swamy temple after performing special pujas on October 18. They will launch the Congress campaigning in Jagtial. The bus yatra will later proceed to Nizamabad district."

He said it was not confirmed for how many days Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi would take part in bus yatra after its launch.