The day-long convention of the Congress on Wednesday saw district level leaders decrying the neglect of cadres and giving a frank assessment about the shortcomings of the leaders.
The meeting of mandal, division and District Congress Committee presidents here served as a platform for the local leaders to pour out their woes and make known their displeasure over the party’s failure to recognise their services. Some said that while the new welfare schemes had received all-round support, they were not backed with proper publicity.
The meeting was chaired by the PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana and attended among others by AICC secretary K. B. Krishnamurthy, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister C. Damodar Raj Narasimha, Ministers – Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and K. Jana Reddy and others.
Purshotham Goud of Yemmiganur said programmes are plenty but lack of publicity was undoing the good efforts of the Government. P.Harikrishna of Adilabad district said a meeting of grass roots leaders would go a long way in creating awareness about the flagship programmes. Karra Rajasekhara of Karimnagar wondered why the leaders failed to publicise the welfare programmes
Thirmal Goud of Kamareddy constituency directly accused the leaders sitting on the dais of taking care of their interests and ignoring the real workers. “Unless you fill the nominated posts, the workers will continue to suffer,” he said. Vasudeva Reddy of Darsi constituency in Prakasam complained bitterly how they had suffered during the TDP rule but the Congress Government failed to come to their rescue so far.
Chandrasekhara Reddy of Prodattur cautioned about the fence-sitters saying that they enjoy the posts but leave the party in lurch by switching loyalties. Squarely blaming leaders for squabbling, Md. Qasim of Gudivada wanted the leaders to undertake bus yatra to show that they are united.
In a candid admission, the Chief Minister said link between Congress leaders and cadres had snapped and spoke about the remedial measure on war footing to recognise the services of unsung party workers. “Luck will come knocking at your door in the form of ticket,” he said advising them not to lose their hearts.
He said difference of opinion in the party was natural but that should not be reflected in public. “There are some mistakes on our part but the media is also playing spoilsport by highlighting them,” he noted.
Talking about defections, he said: “If some leaders desert us, we will develop new leadership by grooming the workers,” he said and did not spare YSR Congress leadership. He termed the regional parties as private limited companies.
V. Hanumantha Rao, MP, batted for the party workers recognition while lashing out at Jaganmohan Reddy. Finance Minister termed the Kadapa MP ‘economic terrorist’. Deputy Chief Minister said weaker sections were the real vote bank of the ruling party and said their interests had to be taken care of. The PCC chief announced a series of meeting to rejuvenate the party cadres at the district level.
