Congress jittery ahead of municipal elections after Gram Panchayat setbacks

Following disappointing Gram Panchayat election results, the Congress leadership in Telangana faces internal dissent and unease ahead of municipal polls. Rebels, ticket distribution issues and criticism over fielding relatives of leaders have added to the party’s challenges

Hyderabad: With the recent Gram Panchayat elections throwing up not-so-desirable results for the Congress, the party leadership in the State appears jittery ahead of the municipal elections, apprehending several challenges, including a growing rift between loyal leaders and turncoats.

Defying party diktats, several leaders contested as rebels in the sarpanch elections and emerged victorious. In addition, the delay in filling posts at the mandal and district levels has left many party leaders disgruntled.

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Amid these factors, even as the leadership attempts to project confidence, the unease within the party is palpable, particularly after family members and relatives of MLAs and elected representatives lost in the Gram Panchayat elections.

During a recent meeting with senior leaders, the party leadership admitted that fielding family members and relatives of MLAs and MPs had cost the party dearly. Several mandal- and constituency-level leaders also expressed the view that this was one of the prime reasons for the party’s losses in the sarpanch elections.

However, in an attempt to cover up their failures, a few MLAs and senior leaders sought to blame covert elements within the party as the main reason. Former MLA Mynampally Hanumanth Rao, Wanaparthy MLA T Megha Reddy and a few others openly alleged that a section of leaders had worked against the party’s interests during the sarpanch elections.

With the municipal elections approaching, loyal leaders who have been working hard for the party are now demanding due recognition. They have made it clear to the leadership that priority should be given to them in the allocation of tickets to contest the elections.

At a meeting with party workers in Jagtial last week, former Minister Jeevan Reddy warned that any discrimination against loyal leaders would not be tolerated. The former Minister, who is at loggerheads with BRS turncoat MLA Dr Sanjay, further said that any interference by ‘outsiders’ in the selection of candidates would be dealt with seriously.

Despite these appeals and demands, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, during a meeting at Gandhi Bhavan here on Thursday, said leaders were free to make suggestions and place their demands before the announcement of candidates. Once the party took a decision and candidates were declared, all leaders should work for the party’s cause. Those working against the party’s interests would be shown the door, he added.

Last week, the TPCC Disciplinary Committee also held a meeting with senior leaders at Gandhi Bhavan. Committee chairman Mallu Ravi said rebels should not contest against party candidates, warning that stern action would be taken against such leaders.