Internal bickering in Congress comes to fore in Sirpur (T) segment

Sirpur (T) Congress in-charge Ravi Srinivas expressed his displeasure against MLC Dande Vittal for allowing some tainted leaders to join the Congress

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Internal bickerings among the Congress leaders in Sirpur are causing concern to the party leadership. While MLC Dande Vittal is reportedly trying to have control over the party, Sirpur (T) Congress in-charge Ravi Srinivas is alleging that party leaders were being ignored in the party programmes. The cold war between the two leaders has become a cause for concern to the party, which is attempting to revive its past glory in the segment.

At a press conference in Kagaznagar a few days ago, Srinivas expressed his displeasure against Vittal for allowing some tainted leaders to join the Congress. Vittal is planning to form his own faction by inviting the leaders, who were rejected by all parties, into the Congress. We don’t believe that his efforts would benefit the party in any way, he asserted.

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Srinivas regretted that Kagaznagar agriculture market committee chairman Suddala Devaiah, a dalit leader, was not given due importance in developmental programmes of the government. Neither Devaiah’s photographs are used in posters, nor was he invited to the programmes. He advised the MLC to focus on development of the segment and not on dividing party cadres. It may be recalled that Srinivas contested as a Congress candidate in last assembly elections.

On the other hand, Vittal is aggressively touring the segment to attend both programmes of the government and the Congress. He is reaching out to victims of floods and road accidents. He is trying to strengthen the party by encouraging leaders of the Opposition parties to become members of the Congress.

However, it is alleged that during the tours, Vittal is declaring himself as the nominee of Congress from Sirpur (T) Assembly constituency in the next polls. His activities and statements are apparently hurting leaders of a faction within the Congress. Meanwhile, former Sirpur (T) MLA Koneru Konappa, who also joined the Congress, is remaining neutral.