Telangana: Dissension roils Congress over A Revanth Reddy’s appointment

HYDERABAD: A day after the announcement of A Revanth Reddy as new Pradesh Congress Committee president, disagreements over the appointment continued to rock the party. Fellow contender and MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Sunday claimed that there was no recognition within the party for Congress activists and that it will soon become like TTDP in future.
Speaking to reporters after returning from New Delhi, Venkat Reddy said he will not go to Gandhi Bhavan (Congress office in Hyderabad). “I came to know about the PCC (president) appointment after going to Delhi. It happened like the cash-for-vote (scam), the PCC post was sold. I will expose the evidence soon,” the MP said and added that he will be confined to his district and parliament segment.
Venkat Reddy pointed out that his political future will be decided by his associates. “I will refrain from criticising Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Some TDP leaders (hinting at Revanth ) are trying to meet me but I am telling them not to me,” he said.
Venkat Reddy was considered to be a strong candidate for the post of PCC chief along with Revanth Reddy. Sources close to Revanth Reddy said the new PCC president will try to take everyone on board and added that while some disturbances were expected, it is not fair to speak about them openly. “It is very inappropriate to criticise a decision taken by our leaders Sonia Gandhi and Manickam Tagore, an honest leader who presented the situation to the top brass,” a source close to Revanth Reddy said.
Hitting back at Venkat Reddy’s claims, new TPCC working president Mahesh Goud said the MP had violated party’s disciplinary code. “He should withdraw his comments otherwise party will take action against him,” Goud said. Sources said that clippings of Venkat Reddy speaking against Revanth Reddy’s appointment have been sent to AICC top brass.
Meanwhile, chairman of the party’s election steering committee, Marri Shashidhar Reddy stepped down from his post. While he did not quit the party, it is claimed that his resignation was in protest over the appointment of Revanth Reddy. However, senior party functionary Shabbir Ali, who is also said to be unhappy over the appointment, said that Revanth will speak to other leaders who were also unhappy over the appointment, including K Laxma Reddy who had resigned from the party on Saturday.