Andhra Pradesh - Warangal   

Cadres ‘see’ fissures in district Congress

WARANGAL: It is too early, but the public talk is on. `Will the Congress retain power? Will TRS improve? Can the TDP make a comeback in Telangana? These are some of the questions, the public is engaged in discussing.

At a time when the Congress is expected to be united, the leaders in the district remain divided and the gulf is deepening by every passing day.

The striking feature is the lack of sense of belongingness among the leaders which the TDP leaders exhibit amply.

The two groups – one led by Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah and the other by Tribal Welfare Minister D S Redya Naik are busy trying to show their strength as the second rung leaders and keep shifting from one side to the other.

Speaking to The Hindu on condition of anonymity, a senior Congress MLA said “Did you see all the five MLAs and other important leaders having a cup of tea? Did you ever see us all together?”

Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah who proclaims his proximity with the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy by virtue of occupying an important portfolio, Mr Ponnala is able to show his prowess, but his group lacks lustre.

Several important leaders are distancing themselves from the Major Irrigation Minister.

More recently Warangal MLA Baswaraju Saraiah too, is learnt to be distancing himself from the Minister.

However it is different story at the Redya Naik camp. He is trying his best to keep his group intact and as part of this exercise he is allowing second rung leaders like Konda Muralidhar to grow in strength.

Mr Redya Naik appears to be more inclined in keeping in keeping his vote bank intact and preferring to stay clear from party affairs. He is apparently piqued about being stripped of the Social Welare Ministry.

MLCs, Gandra Venkataramana Reddy and Pulla Padmavathi weigh their loyalties more in favour of Mr Redya Naik. Mr Saraiah, Konda Muralidhar, MLAs Konda Surekha and Podem Veeraiah came together. Senior leader and MLC N Rajalingam too joined hands with the Mr Saraiah.

The Zilla Parishad chairperson L Dhanvanthi and senior party workers E Vardarajeshwar Rao, Banda Prakash and N Rajender Reddy, unfortunately who are not a force to reckon within the district party organisation are still with Ponnala Lakshmaiah, perhaps for reasons best known to them.

While the educated foresee a comeback for the Congress, the party cadre and lower level leaders appear too unhappy with the top leadership and its functioning. This may not augur well for the district leadership.

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Cadres ‘see’ fissures in district Congress

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