Aspirant says PR sold ticket

BY J.R.PRASAD

Hyderabad, March 29: The Opposition has one thing in common: Disgruntled activists embarrassing the leadership by public protests. In contrast, the Congress has seen surprisingly little dissidence.

A discontented Praja Rajyam aspirant, film director B. Sampath Kumar, put up a “To let” board at the party’s office in Warangal. “The party sold the ticket to those who did not contribute to the party,” he said, voicing a popular complaint against the party.

In Kalwakurti, the PR office was set on fire, the car of a PR leader was set ablaze in Kurnool. The TD chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, tasted the ire of disgruntled leaders at NTR Ghat on the party founding day. Unhappy aspirants, including followers of the former minister, Mr P. Chandrasekhar, and the NTR Fans Association founder-president, Mr S. Rajeswar, shouted slogans.

Mr Naidu blamed the Mahakutami seat-sharing for their not getting tickets. The Telangana Bhavan, the TRS headquarters, turned into a battleground with party activists attacking the place. Police had to intervene to keep the peace.

Activists from Andole and Wardhannapet ransacked the office, and their leaders, Mr Kranthi and Mr B. Rajaiah, threatened to contest as rebels. One person was seriously injured. Some TRS activists wanted the party chief, Mr K. Chandrashekar Rao, to contest from Medak and shouted slogans against Vijaya-shanti. Her supporters shou-ted counter-slogans leading to tension for some time.