Congress applies rules selectively, relaxes norms for Ministers’ families

The Congress party is under scrutiny for selectively enforcing rules, with exceptions made for family members of Ministers and MLAs. TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud defended this stance, while also addressing internal discord and allegations of harassment among party leaders

Hyderabad: Strange are the ways of the Congress. Rules are strictly enforced on district leaders but conveniently relaxed for the family members of Ministers and MLAs.

At a recent meeting with district leaders aspiring for District Congress Committee (DCC) president posts, AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, and senior leaders stressed adherence to the Udaipur Declaration, which prominently includes the ‘one family, one position’ rule.

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The leaders informed aspirants that relatives and family members of sitting public representatives would not be permitted to apply for or aspire to DCC president posts.

Interestingly, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, during an informal chat with media persons in New Delhi on Sunday, said a few MLAs would be offered DCC posts.

He pointed out that Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy’s wife and Kodad MLA N Padmavathi had applied for a DCC post. “At a few places, it is good that MLAs have shown interest in taking up DCC roles,” he reportedly said.

“If MLAs are offered DCC posts, it will not be considered dual posts. If families have been associated with the party for long and have served loyally, it will not be a hurdle,” Goud explained.

The TPCC chief said that generally, when a leader is appointed to another position, he or she resigns from the earlier one. “There is a rule in the party that two positions should not be handled by one individual,” he added.

Discord among Ministers settled

Referring to the police high drama at Forest Minister Konda Surekha’s residence last week, the TPCC president claimed that the discord among Ministers had been resolved.

“Everybody is under the High Command’s radar, and everything is being monitored by the AICC. Raising caste, community, and other equations is objectionable,” Goud said.

He said the Forest Minister had explained that her family panicked at the police’s sudden arrival and that a communication gap had caused confusion. “However, a few comments were uncalled for, and leaders should maintain discipline while holding key positions,” he stressed.

On former Minister T Jeevan Reddy’s allegation of mental harassment by SC Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar, the TPCC president sought to downplay the issue.

“They maintain a guru-disciple relationship. One should adhere to party rules and regulations and not cross the line,” Goud said.