HYDERABAD, 31 March 2004 — The Congress party was rocked by a spate of resignations by a former union minister, several ex-MPs, former state ministers and ex-MLAs who were piqued over the selection of party candidates and allotment of seats to Telangana Rashtra Samithi and two Communist parties for the ensuing assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh.
Former union minister and backward classes leader P. Shiv Shankar was the first to raise the banner of revolt yesterday. He faxed his resignation letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi, protesting the “raw deal” meted out to backward classes in selection of candidates for the elections scheduled next month. By the evening, a score of leaders in various districts followed suit and quit the Congress.
Vijayashanti Not to Contest From Hyderabad
Meanwhile, BJP Mahila Morcha leader and famous Telugu actress Vijayashanti is unlikely to contest from Hyderabad.
Instead, Hyderabad City Deputy Mayor G. Subash Chanderji will be the BJP candidate in the prestigious constituency. He will take on Majlis-e-Ittehaadul Muslimeen candidate Asaduddin Owaisi in Hyderabad, which was represented in the Lok Sabha by his father and Majlis chief Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi for six terms in a row.
