Infights, groupism plague Congress in Khammam

Khammam: It seems the Congress will never have salvation from eternal infightings and group politics. Though the grand old party seems to be united at the national level, internal conflicts and indiscipline are plaguing the Congress at lower levels.

Differences between three camps - Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, MP Renuka Chowdhury and MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy – have come to the fore in the district party unit again during the two-day visit of All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Saleem Ahmad to Khammam recently.

Congress workers belonging to different groups tried to show their strength and abused each other in front of the AICC secretary. However, Congress leaders beg to differ. “There is infight among leaders in the Congress. What you call dissidence and division, for us it is inner party democracy. This is not the BJP where everybody is afraid to speak out,” said a Congress leader from Khammam.

Many within the party feel that serious introspection needs to be done and a proper election strategy should be chalked out involving all factions, before things get out of control.

They pointed out that with such differences, the Congress leaders were worried that infighting and denial of ticket to the leaders who had been working for the party from the beginning may adversely affect the party’s winning chances in the upcoming elections.

Because of the high-handed attitude of some leaders and groupism in the party, several Congress workers and leaders were deserting the party, they added.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Saleem Ahmad, before leaving Khammam, appealed to all workers and probable candidates to stay united and connect with voters and the public and asked them to spread party president Rahul Gandhi’s message to each and every home and assured them that those achieved success in it, would also strengthen their candidature.

Speaking to the media during his visit, the AICC secretary said that he did not think there was infighting or dissidence in the party. Everybody had their own views and opinion and could talk to senior leaders present in the district, he added.

“The experience of seniors who have worked for the party for decades will definitely be recognised and will be used when required. Young leaders should learn to wait in queue and not try to jump it,” he said.

Meanwhile, discussions to appoint new person as the president of the District Congress Committee which is vacant following the demise of Aitham Sathyam have been there for some time with the High Command and it is said to be waiting for appropriate situation to announce.