Hyderabad: There seems to be a game of one-upmanship going on in Telangana Congress among PCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah and leaders of Opposition in Assembly and Council K. Jana Reddy and D. Srinivas.
With each one claiming to be a loyalist to the party and seniormost in the party organisation, an uneasy calm prevails over party affairs. This was compounded on Wednesday when the Congress Legislature Party office released an open letter by the leader of Opposition in the Council D. Srinivas, wherein he asked partymen to discuss with him on strengthening the party in Telangana. Mr Srinivas promised that he will also conduct field visits in the state on all public issues that need to be highlighted.
Claiming credit for bringing the Congress back to power consecutively in 2004 and 2009, Mr Srinivas urged the partymen to concentrate on strengthening the party. Meanwhile, Mr Jana Reddy, talking to newsmen at CLP office on Wednesday, denied any rift with either Mr Lakshmaiah or Mr Srinivas. Denying any game of one-upmanship in the party, he said, “When we don’t have any power, where is the question of playing games here?”.
He also told the media about the proposed meeting of the Congress leaders on August 4 convened by him, stating that it was intended in a good faith and now he will think of involving other leaders in the meeting.
Mr Lakshmaiah on Tuesday said he will not be cowed down by any leader, as he is the leader of Congress and he is capable of ascertaining his position as TPCC chief. Mr Srinivas also is said to be unhappy with the way M Jana Reddy is projecting himself as the CLP leader though the post is still vacant. He is also reportedly upset with him convening meeting of all elected MLAs and MLCs and defeated candidates in the Assembly polls and the agenda behind it.
“If Jana Reddy invites the leaders only for the purpose of hosting a dinner it is well and good, but if there is an set agenda of discussing party matters, unless I am involved in the process it is not proper for him to do so,” Mr Srinivas reportedly told his followers.
Mr Jana Reddy has been elected as leader of the Congress MLAs in Assembly and Mr Srinivas elected as leader of the Congress MLCs in Council, but the Congress Legislature Party leader post, which covers both the Houses, is still vacant.
With all the three key leaders unable to get along due to their internal differences, the Congress affairs in Telangana took a beating with several MLCs and leaders deserting it.
