Internal conflicts hit Congress in Telangana ahead of local body polls

Hyderabad: Even as the local body elections are fast approaching, the Congress leadership in Telangana is worried with internal differences among leaders and dissidence among cadre hitting the party hard in different assembly constituencies.

As it is, the party has been facing severe criticism over the State government’s failure in implementing the six guarantees assured to the people. Rubbing salt into the wound, the HYDRAA demolitions and the controversy over the Musi Riverfront Project and related demolitions have brought negative publicity for the government and the party.

It is amidst this situation that internal differences among leaders cropped up again in the constituencies, leaving the State leadership anxious. The senior leaders are worried that those in districts and constituencies were not focusing on creating a good image for the State government or on countering the Opposition’s charges. This is not confined to a particular constituency and is rampant in many constituencies. Be it erstwhile Medak, Nizamabad, Warangal, Mahabubnagar and even the GHMC limits, this is a common worrying factor for the State unit.

These differences came to light even during TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud’s recent meeting with leaders from different constituencies. During a meeting with Medak district leaders, he said the ensuing local body elections were critical to the party and wanted the leaders to set aside their differences and work as a team. He specifically instructed the constituency incharges to take along all the leaders into confidence and refrain from any sort of discrimination or favouritism.

Apart from the differences among Congress loyalists, the widespread dissent among party cadre against turncoat MLAs and leaders from other parties is also posing a challenge to the State leadership. While, those in erstwhile Warangal are up in arms against Forest Minister Konda Surekha, those in Banswada are opposing Pocharam Srinivas Reddy’s domination in the constituency. Similar is the case in Jagtial, Jogulamba Gadwal, Patancheru and Khairatabad constituencies.

On Wednesday, corporators entered into heated arguments over protocol and lack of coordination during a meeting at Gandhi Bhavan. Vexed with the leaders’ attitude, the TPCC president warned that disciplinary action would be initiated against those who work against the party’s interests.