Key Congress leaders including Sridhar Babu, Bhatti skip Meenkashi Natarajan’s Janahitha Yatra in Karimnagar

Several senior Congress leaders, including Ministers and recent BRS defectors, were absent from the second phase of the Janahitha Yatra in Choppadandi. While party sources attributed some absences to official meetings, others were linked to pending legal matters.

Karimnagar: A few Congress leaders from the erstwhile Karimnagar district were conspicuous with their absence at the second phase of the Janahitha yatra that began in Choppadandi constituency on Sunday evening.

IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, Peddapalli MP Gaddam Vamshi Krishna and Jagtial MLA Dr Sanjay Kumar, who had defected from the BRS, did not attend the programme. Congress leaders had earlier announced that Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka would participate, but he too was absent.

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Party sources said both Vikramarka and Sridhar Babu could not join as they were attending a Ministers’ committee meeting on 42 per cent reservations for Backward Classes in local body elections, held at Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Jagtial MLA Sanjay Kumar, who won on a BRS ticket before switching to Congress, reportedly stayed away as the issue of BRS defectors is pending in the Supreme Court. The reason behind Peddapalli MP Vamshi Krishna’s absence is not known, sources said.

To directly interact with people and address grievances, AICC leader and Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan had launched the Janahitha Padayatra from Parigi Assembly constituency on August 1.

The second phase of the yatra began in Choppadandi on Sunday evening, with Meenakshi Natarajan and TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud resuming the march after garlanding the statue of BR Ambedkar at Upparamallial in Gangadhara mandal.

Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, G Vivek and Adluri Laxman Kumar, Government Whip Adi Srinivas, MLAs and other Congress leaders joined the yatra, which continued till Madhuranagar of Gangadhara, where they addressed a public gathering.

On Monday, the yatra will feature participation in Vanamahotsavam and meetings with women’s groups. Natarajan is also expected to hold a review with party leaders and issue directions to ensure victory in the forthcoming local body elections.