Group politics at its height in Warangal East constituency

Congress factionalism in Warangal East intensified as MLC Baswaraju Saraiah sought a probe into alleged misuse of SC/ST Atrocities cases, triggering backlash from Konda Surekha’s supporters and Dalit groups

Warangal: Even as cold weather conditions are prevailing across Telangana group politics in Congress party in Warangal East constituency are heating up.

It might be noted that the party in the constituency has been divided into two factions, Minister Konda Surekha-her husband Konda Murali and those who oppose the couple. Both the groups are often at loggerheads with each other.

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Political heat intensified as former Minister MLC, Baswaraju Saraiah submitted a petition to Telangana DGP, B Shivadhar Reddy on Friday seeking to probe into alleged illegal SC/ST Atrocities cases booked against certain persons in the constituency.

He specifically mentioned the cases booked at Mills Colony, Intezargunj and Mattewada police stations ‘misusing power since formation of the Congress government’. He also referred to the DGP’s recent orders suspending former Warangal ACP, Inspector and Sub-Inspector for booked false cases against some persons at Mattewada police station to give strength to his complaint.

The cases were booked with influence of political leaders, a reference to the Konda couple, to gain upper hand over eminent personalities and political leaders who refused to join the concerned political leaders’ group, he said. Cases were booked against four Congress corporators of the Saraiah faction and many others.

The former minister’s action has drawn severe criticism from Konda couple’s followers who started posting messages on social media. They sought to know how he could say that the cases filed in the police stations are false and demand a reinvestigation. They even questioned whether Saraiah is in the Congress party or acting as a covert for the BRS party.

Konda couple’s followers found fault with Saraiah for making police officials scapegoat for his political conspiracies. Further they listed out alleged illegal acts of Saraiah, his brother and the corporators in question alleging that Saraiah had never worked for poorer sections.

On the other hand, Telangana Dalit Rights Struggle Committee district general secretary, Sanghi Elender said the MLC’s attempt to portray the SC/ST Atrocities as false and complaining to the DGP is an insult to dalit community.

He questioned whether Saraiah was criticising his own party leaders or the SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act. If any political leader interferes in SC/ST Atrocities cases in the future, the dalits would teach them a fitting lesson through their votes, he warned.