Reports of internal strife within the Telangana Congress party have emerged. Ten legislators met behind closed doors, stirring concerns within the leadership. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is set to meet with all ministers at the Command Control Center to calm the growing dissent among party legislators. The disgruntled MLAs are said to be unhappy with Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.
Sensing the situation's urgency, Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy canceled his Pleyer tour to attend the meeting called by the Chief Minister. CM Revanth Reddy's directive for officials to abstain from attending the meeting indicates the seriousness of the discontent within the party. The Congress high command is worried that any rebellion among legislators before local body and MLC elections could convey a wrong message to the public.
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These 10 Legislators Held the Secret Meeting
Ten Congress legislators gathered at MLA Anirudh Reddy's farmhouse, fueling speculation of internal discord. Present were Naini Rajendra Reddy, Bhupathi Reddy, Yenam Srinivas Reddy, Murali Naik, Kuchukulla Rajesh Reddy, Sanjeev Reddy, Anirudh Reddy, Lakshmikant, Donti Madhav Reddy, and Birla Ilaiyya. Following rumors of internal strife after the secret meeting, Nagar Kurnool MP Malla Ravi tried to downplay it, stating it was just a dinner gathering. He alleged that opposition parties were trying to blow it out of proportion.
Speaking to media personnel in New Delhi, Congress MP clarified that the legislators met at ITC Kohinoor, not any farmhouse. He further mentioned that ten legislators were supposed to attend the dinner, but only eight showed up. Congress MP Malla Ravi also stated he had personally spoken to all the legislators and dismissed any possibility of rebellion. He claimed that the entire episode was exaggerated and misrepresented as a gathering against state leadership.
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Most Discontented MLAs are BRS Defectors
Malla Ravi alleged that the opposition is attempting to mislead the public through social media. Meanwhile, it's stated that the Telangana Congress will seek explanations from all legislators involved. A senior leader from Telangana Congress mentioned, 'There’s a likelihood the state leadership will seek clarifications from legislators. Failing to do so might send a wrong message to party workers.' It is believed that most disgruntled legislators were those who resigned from K. Chandrashekar Rao’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi last year to join Congress. Notably, in March and July last year—before and after the Lok Sabha elections—10 BRS legislators and at least 6 Legislative Council members joined Congress.
