The Assembly elections are less than 12 months away and the Telangana Congress party is wide open. Already, on shaky ground due to defections and consecutive poll losses, the party is facing a new crisis.
Senior leaders have gathered to target and accuse the state Congress president, A. Revanth Reddy, of alienating him. The rebel camp consists of Congress Parliamentary Party chief Bhatti Vikramarka, former Congress PCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy, MLA Jagga Reddy, former MLA Madhu Yaskhi Goud and other elders.
Although the fights started immediately after the announcement of the new president in 2021, the reason for the latest glow is due to the announcement of ward committees, vice presidents and general secretaries. The anti-Revanth camp has alleged that most of the names found in the committee’s list were not genuine or those of deserving candidates but those who have pledged allegiance to Revanth and joined the Congress recently.
Before joining the Congress in 2017, Revanth was a close confidante of AP CM and former TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for almost a decade.
Following in his footsteps were a number of senior and central TDP leaders, including MLA Seethakka, who was earlier with the Maoist movement and a TDP MLA before switching to the Congress.
The current issue has taken the turn of old-timers and newcomers as senior leaders feel that Revanth is destroying “Congress culture” by targeting those who have migrated from the TDP in the recent past and feel threatened.
The biggest allegation by the rebel leaders is that Revanth is running a massive campaign on social media with his machinery and personal team to malign leaders who are not on his side. This, they believe, harms the Congress and will lead to the demise of the party in the state.
It may be recalled that some popular names have left the party after Revanth Reddy took charge of the party. There is a former MP Komatreddy Rajagopal Reddy and a former MP Marri Shashidhar Reddy. Both joined the BJP. In a recent press meet, Rajagopal Reddy appealed to dissident leaders to join the saffron party.
Even the Bharat Jodo Yatra that passed through Telangana could do little to bring peace and harmony within the party. In the Yatra, Revanth and all the other senior leaders shared the stage and chilly atmosphere. Post Yatra, things took an ugly turn.
Rebel leaders are indirectly demanding Revanth’s ouster as the party failed to win even a by-election after he took over.
With pressure mounting and himself cornered, Revanth’s party has also caught fire. Some of the local leaders attached to him have spoken out against the rebel leaders and leveled accusations against them. Also, a dozen members who were recently appointed to various committees and declared Revanth loyalists have resigned. They wrote to the AICC that the party was more important than their posts. Next, they explained how they have worked for the progress of the party and that it is unfair to consider them outsiders.
There is so much mistrust in the Congress that the term “letters” is being labeled against party leaders. A week back, when Congress poll strategist, Sunil Konugolu’s office was raided by the Telangana police for some objectionable social media posts against the Telangana government and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, the Congress did not put up a united show and register strong protests. government
Meanwhile, the AICC has taken notice of the fire that broke out at the Congress headquarters. According to sources, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is personally monitoring the situation and is expected to send envoys to hold talks with both camps to end the crisis.