Siddipet Congress factions intensify revolt over DCC chief appointment

Senior Congress leaders from Siddipet have launched a coordinated revolt against the AICC’s appointment of Tumukunta Akansha Reddy as DCC President. Multiple factions are lobbying for a reversal, intensifying internal divisions ahead of the panchayat elections and leaving party cadres uncertain

Siddipet: Differences have escalated within the Siddipet Congress as a group of senior leaders from the district gathered in Hyderabad on Monday to oppose the AICC decision appointing Tumukunta Akansha Reddy as the DCC President. Akansha Reddy, daughter of former Gajwel MLA Tumukunta Narsa Reddy, succeeded her father amid a long-standing rift between the Narsa Reddy camp and factions led by Mynampally Hanumantha Rao.

Despite heavy lobbying by Mynampally, Narsa Reddy is said to have made every effort to secure the post for his family once again. A day after the AICC announcement, Congress leaders Pujala Hari Krishna, Kommu Vijay Kumar, Bandari Srikanth Rao, Narendar Reddy, and others assembled in Hyderabad, forming a WhatsApp group to coordinate their opposition and push for a reversal of the decision. Their single objective was to persuade the party high command to reconsider.

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While Pujala and Kommu Vijay Kumar were said to be in contention for the DCC post, TPCC general secretary P Sravan Kumar Reddy had also reportedly shown interest. Under Mynampally’s guidance, Pujala, Bandari, Kommu, and other leaders were preparing to meet TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud shortly to submit a representation, and they also planned to visit AICC leaders in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, the district-in-charge minister G Vivekananda and Siddipet minister Ponnam Prabhakar maintained silence on the developments, leaving their cadre uncertain. The widening rift is expected to impact Congress’s prospects in the upcoming panchayat elections as none of the factions are willing to step back.

Pujala Hari Krishna had contested the 2023 Assembly elections from Siddipet, losing in the process, while Bandari Srikanth Rao has been aspiring for the Gajwel seat. Kommu Vijay Kumar has served as SC Cell district president, and Narendar Reddy leads another faction in the Gajwel constituency. Party sources said Pujala, Bandari, and their group will continue their dissent until the AICC changes its decision.