Second in command of the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, has instructed Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) leaders to step up their efforts to win back people in the State by exposing the misdeeds of State and Central governments by explaining how their lives were better placed during the Congress regime.
Mr. Gandhi along with AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal were said to have told the TPCC leaders to keep aside differences as the party has good opportunity to come back to power in Telangana along with neighbouring Karnataka. They warned leaders against rushing to the media and airing differences openly.
Mr. Gandhi made it clear that the Congress would not have any alliance with the TRS and the MIM in future. “Both the parties are our enemies and BJP is no where near us in competition,” sources quoted him as saying.
The three-hour long meeting saw seniors airing their displeasure at the style of functioning of the TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy but all of them assured the high command that they would put up a united face. The promise made by Mr. Revanth Reddy to some aspirants about the tickets was faulted. In all, 38 seniors attended the meeting.
Manthani MLA D. Sridhar Babu lamented about campaign that questioned their political integrity. TPCC working Chief T.Jayaprakash Reddy also echoed similar sentiments. Former TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy is said to have mentioned that their grievances were not being redressed. . A former MP charged that the AICC in-charge of Telangana Manickam Tagore was not neutral in his approach.
TPCC working President Mahesh Kumar Goud said that only those leaders, who have grass-root level relationship should be encouraged.
Former Union Minister Renuka Chowdary complained about some leaders trying to dominate the district politics.
TPCC working president J. Geeta Reddy and AICC spokesperson Dasoju Sravan mentioned about attempts to promote parallel leadership in their constituencies.
Bhongir MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, former PCC chiefs – Ponnala Lakshmaiah and V. Hanumantha Rao also aired their views.
TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy expressed the confidence that all the leaders would sink their difference and work together to bring back the party power in 2023 elections.
Rahul Gandhi used the meeting to introduce K. Sunil, a member of the Prashant Kishore team to the Telangana Congress leaders. Mr. Sunil would coordinate with the TS leaders on data, information and conduct surveys, besides scientifically handling politics.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Revanth Reddy stated that they had discussed the party’s position and political situation in the State at length and had decided to prepare an action plan for strengthening the party to the level it belongs to as the party that had given statehood to Telangana and implemented large number of welfare and development schemes. He stated that they had decided to take the Congress party to every threshold (household) in the State by keeping aside all differences among the seniors.
Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Rahul Gandhi would announce party candidates six months in advance and they (Congress) would have no tie-up with AIMIM in future.
Mr. Vikramarka said he had invited Rahul Gandhi to visit as many times as possible before the next elections and that Mr. Gandhi had assured to do the same.
