Internal Rift Brews In Congress As Senior Workers Feel Sidelined

The senior leaders claimed that they stood by the party through its years in opposition and expressed anger at the party leadership for prioritising newcomers, particularly those who defected from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) after the Congress formed the government, solely to gain political benefits.

In Jagtial constituency, the entry of BRS MLA Dr S. Sanjay Kumar into the Congress has split the party into two factions—one led by senior leader and former MLC T. Jeevan Reddy and the other by newly joined MLA Sanjay Kumar.

Tensions flared during a recent programme at Rythu Vedika in Sarangapur, where ration cards and welfare cheques were distributed. Supporters of Jeevan Reddy staged a protest after he was not invited to the event. They blocked the main entrance, raised slogans and demanded that Sanjay Kumar wear a Congress scarf to prove his loyalty, forcing police to intervene and disperse the crowd.

This confrontation followed an earlier incident in which Jeevan Reddy’s supporters put up large banners branding themselves as the 'Original Congress,' directly targeting Sanjay Kumar’s group. The rivalry between the two factions has persisted ever since Sanjay Kumar crossed over to the Congress.

In Palakurthy constituency, senior Congress leaders have accused Jhansi Reddy, the mother-in-law of MLA Yashaswini Reddy of sidelining veteran party workers in favour of recent entrants from the BRS.
Former mandal president Merugu Mallesham openly warned her to stay in the background and let the MLA lead or risk being chased away.

The resignation of Akkati Nagireddy, Congress president for Charlapalem village, has further highlighted the discontent. He cited Jhansi Reddy’s behaviour as the reason for his departure from the party.
In Station Ghanpur constituency, senior Congress leaders have complained to the party’s high command against MLAKadiyam Srihari, who joined from the BRS. They allege that Srihari has been distributing Indiramma houses and allocating key party posts only to his loyalists while ignoring long-serving Congress workers.

These differences between the leaders and the incidents taking place in the respective constituencies show a growing and grave concern for the Congress. The party continues to struggle to unite its various groups and fails to appease its long-serving members while welcoming newcomers into the party.

These differences between veteran leaders and new entrants underline a serious challenge for the Congress government as it struggles to unite its different groups and appease its long-serving members while welcoming newcomers into the party.