Hyderabad: Representatives of several minority educational institutions in Telangana responded positively to an appeal by govt advisor and senior Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir to support party candidates in the forthcoming Graduates MLC elections.At a meeting at his Jubilee Hills residence on Wednesday evening, the minority institutions assured him that they would consider extending support and encouraging their alumni to vote for Congress candidates.The meeting, attended by AICC secretary Sachin Sawant, TPCC senior vice-president Zafar Javeed and heads of nearly 15 minority institutions, discussed strategies to secure support for Sama Rammohan Reddy from the Mahabubnagar-Ranga Reddy-Hyderabad graduates’ MLC constituency and Ramreddy Sarvotham Reddy from Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduates MLC seat.Shabbir Ali urged the managements to reach out to thousands of graduates associated with their institutions and appeal for their support in the elections. He said the extensive alumni networks of minority colleges could play a significant role in strengthening Congress candidates’ prospects in both constituencies.Shabbir Ali said chief minister A Revanth Reddy, who also holds the education portfolio, was committed to strengthening minority education, improving infrastructure and addressing institutional challenges. He expressed confidence that the govt would carry forward the initiatives taken by former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy to improve education while expanding opportunities for disadvantaged students.Turning to national politics, Sawant said the Graduates MLC election had assumed greater importance amid Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and attempts to undermine voting rights.He accused BJP and RSS of attempting to manipulate elections through what Congress described as “vote chori”. He said educated voters had a special responsibility to defend constitutional values, democratic institutions and the integrity of elections.He maintained that victories for Congress candidates in both Graduates constituencies would send a powerful political message from Telangana to the rest of the country. Such an outcome, he said, would strengthen Rahul Gandhi’s campaign and demonstrate that educated voters rejected attempts to weaken democratic institutions.Congress candidate Sama Rammohan Reddy said he would act as a bridge between educational institutions and the state govt to address their concerns and facilitate the resolution of pending issues. He urged the managements not only to encourage their alumni to register as voters but also to use their influence to mobilise support for Congress candidates and ensure their victory in the forthcoming MLC elections.
