Mancherial: Protocol row brings out serious internal issues in Congress

Peddapalli MP Vamshi and MLAs Vivek and Vinod were not invited by Mancherial MLA K Premsagar Rao to the foundation stone programme, after which their followers expressed unhappiness against Rao for not following protocol.

Mancherial: Neither Peddapalli MP G Vamshi, nor MLAs Dr G Vivek and Vinod were invited to a programme attended by ministers Damodara Rajanarasimha, D Sridhar Babu and D Aanasuya who laid the foundation stone for a super specialty hospital here on Thursday, exposing internal bickering among Congress legislators.

Peddapalli MP Vamshi and MLAs Vivek and Vinod were not invited by Mancherial MLA K Premsagar Rao to the foundation stone programme, after which their followers expressed unhappiness against Rao for not following protocol. A message stating that Vamshi was insulted went viral on social media platforms on Thursday.

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Cadres of the Congress opined that ignoring the MP and MLA would send a negative message to the public. They stated that people would be wondering as to why the local MP and MLAs of both Chennur and Bellampalli who belong to the district were not participating in the programme. They reasoned that Rao was looking down upon the MP and MLAs for being Dalits.

It is learnt that Premsagar Rao, Vivek and Vinod are vying for a berth in the State Cabinet, which is expected to be expanded soon. They are leaving no stone unturned to get a minister post using their proximity to top leadership of the party. This has led to internal bickering among the legislators and the MP, who is the son of Vivek.

Rao is reportedly trying to display his control over the party’s district unit by preventing ministers from entering Assembly constituencies of both Vivek and Vinod. He was accused of not allowing deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to participate in a programme held in Chennur segment. He is also being accused of intentionally not inviting the legislators and the MP to the programme to have all the limelight on him.