Cong, CPM unions join hands against CPI union in RTC polls

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) Union elections for recognition will be held on October 9, with political affiliations and alliances playing a prominent role in the contest. The Congress, CPI and CPM are extending support to their affiliated unions, while rival union alliances have emerged ahead of the polls.

The ruling Congress and CPI are friendly parties in the Assembly and have maintained coordination on the floor of the House, including during the recent monsoon session. However, in the TGSRTC elections, the Congress and CPM have joined hands to face the CPI-affiliated union.

The Congress-backed Telangana Workers Union (TWU) has joined hands with the CPM-affiliated Staff and Workers Federation (SWF). TMU leader Ashwathama Reddy's followers are also extending support to the alliance.

TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud has directed Congress MLAs to take the elections seriously and work for the victory of the party-backed union and its alliance partners. The Congress has been extending support to the TWU, with the issue of merging the RTC with the government also figuring in the campaign. SWF (CITU-affiliated) state publicity secretary Poreddy Ravinder Reddy told The Hans India that his union had approached the Employees Union (EU) to contest the elections together, but received no response.

“We jointly contested elections in the past and won. However, the EU changed its attitude and did not respond to our letters or even personal meetings. Only then did we join hands with the TWU,” he said.

Ravinder Reddy said winning union leaders would be made members of the committee on RTC merger with the government and added that his union would demand a proper merger to ensure employee welfare.

As part of the election exercise, Congress asked INTUC president Sanjeeva Reddy to state that the TWU has INTUC recognition and appeal to employees to vote for the TWU-SWF alliance. The INTUC-affiliated Staff and Workers Union (SWU) has also joined the alliance, making it a TWU-SWF-SWU combine. Mahesh Kumar Goud entrusted TWU honorary president Bonthu Rammohan and president Mogulla Raji Reddy with ensuring its victory.

Meanwhile, CPI-affiliated EU has joined hands with Telangana Mazdoor Union (TMU) and National Mazdoor Union (NMU). EU president S Babu said the alliance was receiving support from employees and expressed confidence in victory.

Around 39,000 employees will vote through secret ballot. Twelve unions are contesting. The polls will cover state, regional and local union recognition, with results to be announced on October 17. The symbols include TWU—Arrow, SWF—Star, EU—Bus, TMU—Ladder and NMU—Torch. Other symbols are Truncheon, Scissors, Dharma Chakra, Tiger, Tyre and Bathukamma.

The court has recognised Thomas Reddy's TMU as the official union, while Ashwathama Reddy's followers are supporting the TWU-SWF alliance.

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Venkateshwarlu Kolishetty

Venkateshwarlu Kolishetty