Telangana: Congress infighting in Siddipet, Gajwel deepens; ministers, PCC chief silent

Infighting in Siddipet and Gajwel Congress units has intensified, with leaders trading allegations and an SC/ST case filed. Ministers and the party leadership remain silent as local cadres fear damage ahead of upcoming local body polls

Siddipet: The widening rift within the Congress in Siddipet and Gajwel constituencies has left the party cadre stunned, with three ministers linked to the district maintaining silence on the escalating factionalism.

Congress leaders in the two constituencies have been trading allegations openly. In a serious development, the party’s SC Cell district president, Kommu Vijay Kumar, lodged an SC/ST Atrocities case against district president Tumukunta Narsa Reddy.

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Despite the flare-up, ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, who hails from Siddipet district, Gaddam Vivekanand, the in-charge of erstwhile Medak district, and Damodara Rajanarasimha, a strong leader in the region, have not responded to the infighting.

Adding to the crisis, senior leader G Chakradhar Goud resigned from the party in Siddipet, accusing Mynampally Hanumantha Rao of deepening divisions. Goud alleged Mynampally was working against the party’s interests despite claiming to strengthen its base in Siddipet and Gajwel to counter former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and former minister T Harish Rao. Both Gajwel and Siddipet Congress leaders have publicly blamed Mynampally for the ongoing discord.

Local leaders fear Mynampally’s continued involvement could severely hurt the party’s prospects in the upcoming local body elections. Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud, currently on his Janahita Padayatra to strengthen the party, has also stayed away from addressing the crisis, even as leaders bickered openly in public and on social media.

Like the ministers, the party’s disciplinary committee has refrained from intervening. District in-charge minister G Vivekanand even avoided scheduling further programmes in Siddipet after witnessing public clashes among leaders during his earlier visits.