Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) in making attempts to replicate the Punjab model in the 31 Assembly constituencies reserved for SC and STs in the state with “Mission 31” programme.

Speaking at Congress workers training programme retired IAS officer and AICC SC Cell chairman Koppula Raju said that TPCC leaders should take additional measures similar to Punjab Congress by identifying 3750 workers and grooming them to grow as leaders in these constituencies. He advised setting up polling station-wise committees called ‘Rahul Brigade’ and ensuring that they go door to door and get in touch with every voter. This experiment in Punjab, helped congress bag 22 out of 34 reserved seats.

It may be noted that in the 31 constituencies, Congress won 6 seats in 2014 assembly elections. However, three MLAs defected to ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

The strategy is to create leadership in Dalit communities where not much has been done. The party will focus on recognising and establishing relationship with the local opinion makers and influential people in the local castes and occupational groups. These six to seven leaders will be trained for six months, later will be given tasks to identify local issues and raise the voice for people. The party leaders will observe their work, based on which tickets will be given for contesting in 2019 elections.

TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy critiqued the government for being silent on the growing violence on Dalits. He would soon initiate the first round of campaign through ‘Rahul Sandesh Yatra’ by touring the state.