Urban bank election exposes divisions within Karimnagar Congress
Ahead of the Karimnagar Cooperative Urban Bank elections, internal rifts have resurfaced in the Congress with three factions forming separate panels. Despite the party’s decision not to field an official panel, key leaders have entered the contest independently
Karimnagar: The internal rift within the Karimnagar Congress has once again come to light ahead of the Karimnagar Cooperative Urban Bank elections scheduled for November 1.
Though the elections are officially non-political, all major parties have fielded candidates for the 12 director posts and begun campaigning. However, within the Congress, three separate panels have entered the fray, exposing growing factionalism.
Despite the ruling party’s claim that the Congress would not field any official panel, three groups from within the party are contesting. Karimnagar Parliament constituency in-charge Velchala Rajender Rao and former bank chairmen Gaddam Vilas Reddy and Karra Rajashekhar have each formed their own panels and are working hard to ensure their members’ victory.
While Rajender Rao and Vilas Reddy claim their respective panels represent the Congress, Rajashekhar has formed a separate group comprising leaders from multiple political backgrounds. Adding to the disarray, a few Congress leaders are also contesting as independents, leaving party voters confused about where to cast their votes.
Sources said that when the notification for the cooperative bank elections was issued, a few Congress leaders met Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar seeking his support to field a party panel. However, the Minister reportedly did not respond positively.
Meanwhile, DCC president Dr Kavvampalli Satyanarayana had earlier clarified that the Congress would not officially field any panel. Ignoring his statement, Rajender Rao went ahead and formed his own panel, asserting that those with Congress ideology and loyalty were contesting under his leadership.
Rajender Rao claimed that Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Thummala Nageshwar Rao, Government Whip Adi Srinivas, and Jagtial MLA Dr Sanjay Kumar had extended their support to his panel. He added that he would take full responsibility and work for their victory.
A total of 54 candidates are contesting for 12 director posts, nine in the general category, two for women and one for SC/ST. The voter list comprises 9,287 members, including 7,272 from Karimnagar and 2,015 from Jagtial.
