Kyathanpalli chairperson stalemate aggravates internal bickering in Congress in Mancherial

A stalemate in the Kyathanpalli municipal council election has intensified internal disputes within the Congress in Mancherial. Party leaders have blamed strategic failures and leadership interference for the setback, with plans to raise the issue before the high command

Mancherial: The stalemate in the election of Kyathanpalli municipality’s governing council has aggravated internal bickering among Congress leaders and elected representatives of the party’s district unit.

Certain leaders and public representatives were reportedly displeased by the interventions of Labour minister Dr G Vivek and his son, Peddapalli MP G Vamshikrishna, for trying “inappropriate tactics” in the election of the council, mishandling situations and adverse developments that unfolded against the Congress. They are likely to bring Vivek’s stance to the party high command, highlighting the negative consequences of the entire episode.

---

It is learned that Vivek handed over the reins to Vamshikrishna to devise strategies for capturing the chairperson post of the 22-member municipality, where the Congress was confined to seven wards and the BRS-CPI alliance won 14 wards.

“Vamshikrishna, who was still immature in politics, could not devise the right strategy to secure the chairperson post and was aggressive in his approach. He did not realise the plans of the BRS and failed to thwart its smart moves made by former Chennur MLA Balka Suman. The tactics adopted by Vamshi were predicted by Suman, who spoiled their bid to poach BRS-CPI councillors,” a senior leader said.

Earlier, Vivek was alleged to have ignored Kyathanpalli municipality as he laid complete focus on the Chennur civic body to prove his sway over the town following the recent shift of loyalty of key leader Mula Raji Reddy towards the BRS. “He was misled by a few leaders who fielded unsuitable candidates from various wards in Kyathanpalli municipality. Similarly, a top party leader from the district accepted bribes from aspirants to allocate tickets here, resulting in defeat for the Congress,” a leader remarked.

It was said that Mancherial MLA K Premsagar Rao, who competed with Vivek for a cabinet berth, and his faction were also unhappy with Vivek for bringing disrepute to the Congress party in the district by arresting Balka Suman. Rao was understood to have expressed the view that the stalemate had affected the party’s reputation in the district.