Tensions persist between Bhadrachalam MLA and former Congress MLA

Fresh remarks by former Congress MLA Podem Veeraiah against Bhadrachalam MLA Dr. Tellam Venkat Rao have reignited tensions between the two leaders, causing unrest among party workers, even as internal differences within the Congress surfaced in Pinapaka constituency.

Kothagudem: Legislators who defected from the BRS to the ruling Congress party are now becoming the butt of ridicule and targets of harsh criticism from leaders of the ruling party itself.

The latest example of this growing animosity spilling into the public domain was reported from Cherla mandal in the Bhadrachalam Assembly segment, where the defected MLA Dr Tellam Venkat Rao came in for sharp criticism and a warning from defeated Congress candidate Podem Veeraiah.

---

On Monday, as Congress workers took out a rally to thank people for electing the sarpanches, Veeraiah went hammer and tongs against Venkat Rao in his speech. He reminded people that Venkat Rao continued to be a BRS legislator and was not a Congress leader.

Though Venkat Rao had been attending Congress meetings and had also worked for Congress candidates in the recently concluded gram panchayat elections, Veeraiah pointedly said there was a need to teach a fitting lesson to those who claimed to be Congress leaders after defecting from the BRS. Such a lesson would be taught at an appropriate time, he warned.

He also reminded people that Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar had ruled on December 17 that Dr Venkat Rao and other defected MLAs continued to remain affiliated to the BRS.

It may be noted that both MLA Dr Venkat Rao and Veeraiah have often been at odds ever since the MLA, who was elected on a BRS ticket, joined the Congress. Veeraiah has on many occasions made caustic remarks against the MLA in public. Their followers have also clashed with each other and gone to the police station.

The continuing rivalry between the two leaders is causing unrest among party workers, especially followers of Dr Venkat Rao, in the Bhadrachalam Assembly constituency. However, there has been no immediate response to Veeraiah’s comments from the MLA or his followers. Party workers fear that if the conflict continues, it could affect the party and weaken it in the constituency.

On the other hand, internal bickering among Congress leaders in Pinapaka came to light, with MLA Payam Venkateshwarlu complaining that several party leaders worked to defeat party supporters in the recently concluded gram panchayat elections. He made the comments during the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected sarpanches on Monday.