Congress high command’s leadership list sparks discontent in Siddipet and Medak

Party leaders also pointed out that even when the Congress government announced nominated posts earlier, all three allotted to the erstwhile Medak district went to leaders from Sangareddy alone.

Siddipet: Congress leaders from Siddipet and Medak districts have expressed disappointment after none of their names appeared in the list of 27 Vice-Presidents and 69 General Secretaries announced by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Tuesday. The list was released by the party’s national general secretary KC Venugopal.

While seven leaders from the erstwhile Medak district were appointed, all hailed from Sangareddy district. Notably, four of them were from the Patancheru Assembly constituency. Gali Anil Kumar, MA Faheem and Chinnapatla Sangameshwar were appointed as Vice-Presidents, while A Sanjeev Mudiraj, Sasikala Yadava Reddy, Dr Girija Shetkar and Topaji Ananta Kishan were made General Secretaries.

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Anil Kumar, Sasikala, Sanjeev and Faheem are from Patancheru, whereas Ananta Kishan and Sangameshwar are from Sangareddy. All six are known to be close to the party’s working president and Sangareddy MLA T Jagga Reddy. Dr Girija Shetkar, who is from Narayankhed constituency, is the daughter of Zaheerabad MP Suresh Shetkar.

The announcement by the high command left party leaders from Siddipet, Gajwel, Dubbak, Medak, Narsapur and Zaheerabad constituencies feeling disheartened. Gajwel in-charge Tumukunta Narsi Reddy, Dubbak in-charge Cheruku Srinivas Reddy, senior leader and former Narsapur MLA Madan Reddy, former Medak MLA Mynampally Hanumantha Rao and Sravan Kumar Reddy were among those who had aspired for the posts.

Leaders also pointed out that even when the Congress government announced nominated posts earlier, all three allotted to the erstwhile Medak district went to leaders from Sangareddy alone.

A senior Congress leader, whose name was expected in the list, said perceived neglect by the leadership could damage the party’s prospects in the upcoming local body elections. He urged the high command to ensure regional balance in leadership appointing, noting that despite decades of service, their efforts remained unrecognised.