Internal bickering to the fore in Bhadrachalam Congress in the wake of GP polls

Internal differences have surfaced in Bhadrachalam Congress ahead of gram panchayat polls, as Podem Veeraiah’s faction expressed dissatisfaction over the unilateral selection of a sarpanch candidate by MLA Dr. Tellam Venkat Rao’s group. Leaders plan to raise the matter with higher party authorities.

Kothagudem: Internal bickering has come to the fore in Bhadrachalam Congress once again in the wake of gram panchayat polls.

Telangana Forest Development Corporation Limited chairman, former Bhadrachalam MLA Podem Veeraiah was said to be upset with the unilateral decision taken by the local MLA Dr. Tellam Venkat Rao’s faction in fielding the sarpanch candidate for Bhadrachalam gram panchayat.

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It might be noted that Congress leader Punem Ramakrishna, a follower of Dr. Venkat Rao filed his nomination papers on Thursday for the sarpanch seat. This happened even as Veeraiah told the party leaders to sit together on Friday to finalise the party candidate as he was not available locally on Thursday.

Veeraiah’s followers complained that the MLA faction took the final decision to choose the candidate on behalf of the party without consensus among the leaders and activists. They were saying that it was not right to take a unilateral decision, declare it as a party decision.

It is said that Veeraiah’s faction, who were deeply dissatisfied, were planning to discuss the matter with him to decide whether to support the candidate who has filed the nomination or field their own candidate. Veeraiah who was supposed to reach Bhadrachalam on Friday has not arrived yet.

Veeraiah’s followers also complained that they were not invited to a meeting held at the MLA’s house on Thursday and such acts would harm the party’s interests in the elections. They were planning to take the matter to the notice of the DCC and TPCC leaders for a proper action.

It might be noted that ever since Dr. Venkat Rao joined Congress party after getting elected on BRS ticket in the last Assembly elections, differences cropped up among them. Veeraiah on several instances openly found fault with the MLA for promoting his own group while neglecting the old timers.