Gap between Congress and CPI widens in Kothagudem Assembly, cadres confused

Differences between the CPI and Congress appear to be widening in Kothagudem, with CPI State secretary and MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao warning Congress against ignoring his party. The developments have triggered debate over coordination between the alliance partners

Kothagudem: Gap between the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Congress party is allegedly widening in Kothagudem Assembly constituency, if the comments by the CPI leadership are any indication.

It might be noted that the CPI had a pre-poll alliance with Congress during the previous Assembly elections and got the Kothagudem seat allotted to it. Similarly, it enjoys Congress support in Kothagudem Municipal Corporation, though they had contested the elections separately.

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However, both the parties have been at odds for some time and recently the CPI leadership has intensified its attack against the Congress leadership, indicating a lack of coordination among the parties. The development has become a subject of debate among political circles here.

Addressing a rally during the recent ‘Praya Chaitanya Yatra’ at Pinapaka in the district, the party State secretary, Kothagudem MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, made rather serious comments against Congress.

While maintaining that Congress has to come to power in the next elections, the MLA warned the ruling party leadership against ignoring the CPI. The CPI’s support to Congress is meant to prevent the communal-minded BJP from coming to power in Telangana, but Congress leadership should not take advantage of it, he asserted.

According to sources, though Sambasiva Rao’s ire seemed aimed at Congress leadership outwardly, deep down he is said to be targeting Palair MLA, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.

The MLA is said to be upset over the Minister’s excessive involvement in the affairs of Kothagudem Assembly, both officially and unofficially. The Minister is said to be making efforts to build up his support base in Kothagudem, aiming to contest for the seat in the next elections, and it is irking the CPI MLA.

Further, it is said that the CPI leadership has been trying to prove its might in the constituency and acting independently to boost the cadres’ morale in view of the upcoming SCCL’s recognised trade union elections.

In all, the CPI leadership’s demeanour of having an alliance with Congress and targeting the same party publicly is not adding up, while leaving the cadres of both the parties confused.