Congress suffers setback in CM’s home district; former municipal chairman quits party

In a political blow to the Congress ahead of local body elections in Telangana, former Gadwal Municipal Chairman BS Keshav resigned from the party, accusing it of marginalising backward communities. He plans to join the BRS in the presence of KT Rama Rao, along with other local leaders.

Jogulamba-Gadwal: In a setback to the Congress ahead of the local body elections in Telangana, former Gadwal Municipal chairman BS Keshav quit the party in Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s home district of Palamuru.

Keshav, citing discrimination against BCs within the party, announced that he would join the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the presence of working president KT Rama Rao on September 6 or 10th. Along with him, several former councillors and sarpanches are also set to switch sides to the BRS.

---

Addressing the media here on Thursday, Keshav alleged that despite repeated complaints to senior Congress leaders about injustice to BCs, no corrective measures were initiated.

He recalled that two months ago a mega meeting was held in the district with nearly 2,000 Congress workers, where several issues were raised and later conveyed to senior leaders. “There was no response,” he said.

“Telangana Congress is unable to address BCs’ issues within the party but strangely is staging protests in New Delhi for 42 per cent reservations,” he remarked.

Keshav also alleged irregularities in allotment of houses under the Indiramma Housing scheme, claiming that many BC beneficiaries were denied their due. He further charged that, contrary to tall claims from leaders at Gandhi Bhavan, grassroots leaders and workers were being denied recognition within the party.