Meenakshi Natarajan’s replacement sparks speculation in Telangana Congress

Speculation over the possible replacement of Telangana Congress in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan has intensified following former in-charge Manikrao Thakare’s visit to Gandhi Bhavan. Several names, including Mukul Wasnik, Digvijaya Singh and Ashok Gehlot, are reportedly being considered for the post

Hyderabad: Amid speculation that AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan could be replaced, the sudden appearance of former AICC in-charge Manikrao Thakare at Gandhi Bhavan triggered curiosity among Congress leaders and political circles.

For the past few days, social media has been abuzz with speculation that Meenakshi Natarajan could be replaced as the Telangana in-charge. The speculation gained significance after Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy dropped Konda Surekha from the Cabinet.

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It is learnt that Meenakshi Natarajan was reportedly planning to pursue higher education abroad. Against this backdrop, different theories are doing the rounds at Gandhi Bhavan.

Interestingly, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, who spoke to media persons, said he came to know about Natarajan’s plans to pursue higher education only through the media.

“We have no idea what decision the AICC will take in this regard,” he said.

Before Natarajan took charge as the Telangana in-charge on February 14 last year, Thakare had served as the State in-charge. After the Congress came to power in 2023, he was replaced by Deepa Das Munshi. Natarajan was subsequently appointed as the State in-charge.

Many senior leaders at Gandhi Bhavan believe Natarajan was not convinced by some decisions taken by the State government. The controversy over the Kancha Gachibowli lands and her interactions with staff and students of Hyderabad Central University reportedly did not go down well with the State leadership.

She later made surprise visits to Adilabad and other places. She also sought feedback from grassroots-level leaders on the implementation of welfare and development programmes in the State.

The differences appeared to widen further when the AICC constituted a special Coordination Committee in March this year to improve “communication” and “cooperation” between the party organisation and the State government.

Apart from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and a few Cabinet Ministers, Natarajan and former MLA Vamshichand Reddy are members of the committee.

Against this backdrop, speculation over who could succeed Natarajan is gaining momentum at Gandhi Bhavan. Former Union Minister Mukul Wasnik and former Chief Ministers Digvijaya Singh and Ashok Gehlot are among the names reportedly being considered for the post.