In an interview to Salar News, Mansoor Ali Khan, AICC Secretary in-charge of Telangana discussed in detail his party’s strategy in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Salar News: What are the lessons from the Telangana Assembly elections and how will those be applied in the selection of candidates for Lok Sabha 2024?
Mansoor Ali Khan: The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are a fight between the BJP and the Congress. The BRS has been reduced to a ‘fair weather party’ which may ultimately end up supporting the BJP.

In the Assembly elections, Congress has not done well in Greater Hyderabad, Hyderabad (Old City) and Northern Telangana. However, the maximum number of applications for the Praja Palana Scheme launched by the new Telengana government have come from these three areas. This is very encouraging for us.

Salar News: Will you adopt the same model of surveys, used during Assembly polls, for giving tickets in the Lok Sabha elections?

MAK: The criteria of the candidate will be his or her ability to win. Winning the election is the most important aspect. So like assembly elections, the due diligence in terms of surveys and assessment of candidates will be done. Based on that, the party will decide.

Salar News: There was a lot of discontent during the Assembly elections where those who worked for the party for a long time, were denied tickets. That had led to some of them leaving and many had to be pacified. How are you planning to deal with this?

MAK: In the Lok Sabha elections, we are looking at 14 seats from Telangana. For that, we want ‘electable’ candidates. The elections in South India are fought on various fronts and the candidate has to be strong on the ground and also able to campaign. If the survey shows that a particular candidate is good on both fronts and has a chance of winning, the ticket will be issued. There is now a set method which will be followed. Those who are not happy will be accommodated at a later date.

Salar News: Rahul Gandhi has said that youth and women will be given a chance to contest in elections. What is your strategy on that front?
MAK: The party is very keen on youth and women contesting the elections and we are looking at probable candidates in both the categories.

Salar News: What about Hyderabad parliamentary seat?

MAK: In Hyderabad, our focus will be on dealing with the menace of bogus voting. We have asked party workers and assembly representatives to remain extra vigilant about this issue.

Salar News: There is a high percentage of Muslims in Telangana, but the Congress government has not given any post to members of the community leader. For the Lok Sabha elections, will there be adequate Muslim representation?

MAK:  Let us be fair here and say that there is no other party in the country which has the interests of the minorities as part of their agenda. We are confident about the Muslims voting for the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. The posts will be decided after the elections.

Salar News:  The Ram Mandir issue will continue to dominate the Lok Sabha elections? How is the Congress going to deal with it?

MAK: The party’s stand is out in the open. We do not mix religion with politics. We want to address issues confronting the people of this country, which include inflation, unemployment, lack of infrastructure, lack of access to healthcare, crime against women etc.