Telangana Congress leaders raise concern over alleged media targeting

Senior Telangana Congress leaders have reportedly expressed displeasure over media reports targeting some party leaders. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud and Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy have questioned such reports and warned against targeting party leaders.

Hyderabad: The State Congress leadership’s reported attempts to use a section of the media to project some leaders in poor light appear to be backfiring, with several senior leaders openly expressing their displeasure.

The attempts to target leaders, particularly those critical of the State leadership, have also come under scrutiny within Gandhi Bhavan. Interestingly, several of those reportedly in the crosshairs are ‘original’ Congress leaders who have remained with the party for years.

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A few reports in a section of the media have commented on the conduct and functioning of these leaders. The approach has not gone down well with senior Congress leaders, particularly those who have been loyal to the party for decades.

In January, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka strongly objected to reports related to Singareni tenders.

He had hit out at ABN Andhra Jyothy Managing Director Vemuri Radhakrishna over what he termed false allegations regarding the tenders. Bhatti Vikramarka demanded that Radhakrishna admit that the reports were concocted and place the facts before the people.

Accusing Radhakrishna of attempting to tarnish his image through his columns, the Deputy Chief Minister said efforts were being made to damage his four-decade-long political career through fake stories. He made it clear that such attempts would not be accepted or tolerated.

A couple of months ago, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud faced a similar situation when a regional news channel aired reports questioning his leadership. Interestingly, the reports were telecast when Goud was in Dubai.

“My party and cadre will evaluate my performance. At an appropriate time, I will reveal all the issues. A news channel’s report questioning my performance is not a yardstick,” Goud had said in response.

Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy has also warned ABN Andhra Jyothy Managing Director Vemuri Radhakrishna to mend his ways.

“We are Original Congress leaders, who fought for Telangana. Any attempts to demean our respect and commitment will not be tolerated,” Rajgopal Reddy said on Wednesday.

“Who is ABN channel supporting? It will be wise to stay grounded or we will hit back,” he warned.

A section of leaders in Gandhi Bhavan now feels that similar tactics are being employed in the controversy involving Forest Minister Konda Surekha. They questioned how the Minister could be held responsible for remarks made by her daughter against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

“A narrative is being built against her. If these tactics are not condemned now, they will be applied to other Original Congress leaders in future. Loyal leaders are already facing a lot of discrimination,” a senior leader at Gandhi Bhavan observed.