Congress continues to face heat from disgruntled leaders over Cabinet exclusion

Tensions are rising in Telangana Congress ranks as sidelined Cabinet aspirants and their supporters threaten resignations and warn of poll backlash. Bodhan MLA P Sudarshan Reddy’s loyalists issued an ultimatum, while Mancherial MLA Prem Sagar Rao expressed open discontent

Hyderabad: The dissent brewing among Congress leaders over being denied Cabinet berths continues to intensify, with aspirants and their supporters standing firm on their demands and even threatening to quit the party.

Followers of Bodhan MLA P Sudarshan Reddy, one of the frontrunners for a ministerial berth, issued an ultimatum to the party leadership, demanding that he be inducted into the Cabinet before the upcoming local body elections. Party workers from Bodhan and Nizamabad constituencies warned they would submit mass resignations if their leader was overlooked. They also cautioned that the Congress would face consequences in the local body polls if their demand was ignored. A few of Sudarshan Reddy’s supporters arrived in Hyderabad on Monday and are expected to meet TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud to press their case. Unconfirmed reports suggested that they have called for a bandh in Bodhan on Tuesday.

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The protesters also questioned the logic behind rewarding recent entrants to the Congress with Cabinet positions while sidelining long-time loyalists like Sudarshan Reddy.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, accompanied by Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, met Mancherial MLA Prem Sagar Rao at his residence in Hyderabad on Monday. A close aide of the Deputy CM, Prem Sagar Rao was also expecting a Cabinet berth. However, the party chose Chennur MLA G Vivek instead, a move that reportedly upset the Mancherial legislator.

Before heading to Suryapet for official engagements, Bhatti Vikramarka made a personal visit to pacify Prem Sagar Rao. The MLA is said to have conveyed his displeasure to the Deputy CM and has not yet revealed his next course of action.