Senior Congress leaders from Telangana were at the receiving end as second rung party leaders gave vent to their anger at their autocratic style of functioning and held them responsible for the party’s poor showing in the general elections.
The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee executive meeting held at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday saw some office-bearers openly blaming former Ministers, MPs and seniors for not caring for the party in the elections. Trouble broke out when a senior party leader Bala Pochaiah kicked up a scene alleging that he was not invited for the meeting.
TPCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah chaired the meeting while working president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy was present. The meeting was attended by AICC secretary G. Chinna Reddy and seniors like Mallu Ravi. He staged an impromptu sit-in even as other leaders tried to pacify him. He was joined by other party secretaries – Bollu Kishan, T. Niranjan and Gowrishankar – who launched a broadside against the senior leaders. They lamented that the infighting among the party seniors cost the party dearly in the elections. Some of them accused a section of the top leaders of misleading party president Sonia Gandhi on Telangana.
Mr. Ponnala Lakshmaiah, in his address, said that all those who had a role in the defeat of Congress in the elections would not be spared. He admitted that there was anti-incumbency factor against the Congress for its 10-year rule and pointed out that voters were carried away by the promises made by regional parties.
Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that if the cadres were strong, the party would also remain strong. He said constituency wise meetings would be held from July 21 to 31.
The meeting passed two resolutions demanding that the TRS government issue a statement of fee reimbursement and delay in releasing payment for construction of Indiramma houses. Among others – party general secretaries Fareeduddin, P. Narasimha Reddy, C.J. Srinivas, Hari Ramadevi, A Lakshman Kumar, party’s disciplinary action committee chairman M. Kodanda Reddy were present.
