Never in the history of the city’s Congress party has such an electoral debacle occurred. Not a single corporator or legislator has been elected in the string of elections the counting for which concluded on Friday. The city Congress office, the historic Andhra Ratna Bhavan, wore a desolate look after the rout of the party in both municipal and general elections. The Bhavan has a rich history. Mahatma Gandhi held meetings at the building when he visited the town on four occasions. It shares the title “Andhra Ratna” with none other than the first Telugu secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Duggirala Gopalakrishnayya.
But the days ahead seem to be really bleak for this heritage site. “It is like a dead body. We cannot keep it inside the home or dispose it of like regular garbage,” said a Congress leader. With no elected representatives to take an interest in it, the building is expected to become a white elephant for the local leaders.
Now that the State is going to be divided, no funds can be expected from Hyderabad and the city office would have to fend for itself. “It costs a minimum Rs. 25,000 a month to run the office. The cost of organising agitations and meeting is additional,” a leader said. With leaders having such doubts and fears, it is going to be a while before any activity is seen in the building.
