“Only if Sonia Calls...”

The drama behind replacement for the Congress party candidate for Warangal by-polls was theatrical at its best.

While the Congress was contemplating calling Sarve Satyanarayana as the replacement candidate for Rajaiah, the former was adamant that Congress president Sonia Gandhi should ask him to contest the elections.

That placed Pradesh Congress Committee chief Uttam Kumar in a tight spot. He began running from pillar to post as the deadline to file the nomination papers was within a few hours.

It was when the phone call came from Delhi and the same was conveyed to Satyanarayana that the PCC chief and local leaders heavied a sigh of relief. It was only after this incident that the nomination papers were filed. Sarve Satyanarayana, who was initially rejected as the Congress candidate had the last laugh.