Telangana Congress plans to mobilise 10,000 cadres for Delhi rally

A view of Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad. File

Telangana Congress has begun preparations to mobilise around 10,000 party cadres for a rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on November 1 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with the party leadership holding meetings across several districts to coordinate participation.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud said on Tuesday that the State unit was working to ensure a sizeable presence at the rally. Ministers and other senior leaders have held preparatory meetings in their respective districts, while Mr. Mahesh Goud has also reviewed arrangements with district leaders.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had earlier held meetings with party leaders to discuss preparations for the Delhi programme. The rally is significant for the Congress leadership nationally, particularly Rahul Gandhi, who has been at the forefront of the party’s campaign on electoral issues.

The Telangana unit is keen to ensure a strong turnout in the national capital, with the programme also seen within the party as an opportunity to demonstrate the State organisation’s capacity to mobilise cadres for a national-level event.

The mobilisation drive is also posing logistical challenges. Airfares on the Hyderabad–Delhi sector have reportedly risen sharply amid heavy demand. The steep increase is likely to add to the expenditure involved in transporting a large contingent to the national capital.

The Telangana Congress is arranging around 50 buses to transport party cadres. A senior Congress leader said the party had opted for buses after the Railway Department declined to provide special trains.

“The Railway Department has refused to provide special trains under pressure from the Union government. We therefore had to opt for buses,” the leader said.

Telangana / Indian National Congress / Delhi