Mancherial MLA warns of defections, urges priority for loyal Congress leaders

Mancherial MLA K Premsagar Rao warned Congress leadership against encouraging defections, saying it could harm the party’s survival. He urged priority for loyal leaders amid concerns over turncoats dominating party affairs.

Adilabad: Congress MLA from Mancherial, K Premsagar Rao, cautioned the party leadership against encouraging defections. He said such a trend could weaken the party’s future in the State.

His remarks came soon after former Minister T Jeevan Reddy quit the Congress. Reddy had cited several reasons, including the growing preference for turncoat leaders, for his resignation.

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Speaking at a party programme in Mancherial on Friday, Rao urged the leadership to recognise the contribution of loyal leaders. He said they should be given priority in nominated posts and organisational positions.

Rao alleged that leaders who joined the Congress before or after the elections were sidelining long-time party workers at official events. He said many of these turncoats were not driven by ideology but had joined the party only for power.

He warned that such leaders would not remain with the party once political equations changed. “If defections are encouraged and turncoats’ domination continues, the party will struggle to survive,” Rao said.

Rao made these remarks in the presence of TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, AICC Secretary for Telangana Sachin Sawant, and Labour Minister G Vivek Venkat Swamy, among others.