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Warangal: Ahead of GWMC polls, rift widens in Congress
Katla Srinivas Rao (Left); Naini Rajender Reddy (Right)
Ahead of impending elections to the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC), the Congress stares at a possible conflict within its rank and file with many leaders reportedly distressed with the functioning of Warangal District Congress Committee (DCC) President Naini Rajender Reddy
Warangal: Ahead of impending elections to the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC), the Congress stares at a possible conflict within its rank and file with many leaders reportedly distressed with the functioning of Warangal District Congress Committee (DCC) President Naini Rajender Reddy.
Naini has been at the helm of party's district affairs since 2014 after the then DCC chief Donthi Madhava Reddy quit the post. All these years, he remained unopposed, holding the post comfortably. However, of late, there was a voice of dissent against his leadership with a handful of senior, second rung and youth leaders opposing his style of functioning.
Joining the disgruntled voices was Katla Srinivas Rao, Greater Warangal Congress Committee President. In fact, Katla was seen as a trusted lieutenant of Naini until recently. Although the crux of the issue that strained their friendship was not apparent, the party sources murmur that they were not on the best of terms with each other since the 2018 Assembly elections and subsequent Lok Sabha in 2019.
Against this backdrop, Katla, who met TPCC President N Uttam Kumar Reddy in Hyderabad on Wednesday, submitted his resignation from party post. After failing to pursue him, Uttam had accepted his resignation, it's learnt. Confirming his resignation with The Hans India, Katla said, "The TPCC chief was apprised of all the developments within the party."
"Now with the term of the GWMC body to end early next year, both the leaders want their sway over the party affairs. It's high time for the party leadership to mop up the issue so that it can focus on elections," a senior leader said. He was sceptical about a vertical split in the party with many senior leaders gunning for Naini's removal.
On the other hand, some of the leaders wanted party overhaul in the district. Youth Congress Warangal Lok Sabha Constituency President G Ramakanth Reddy accused the DCC chief of encouraging groupism by giving prominence to rowdies. Pointing to the rumble at the Youth Congress Foundation Day (August 9) celebration, he said that such incidents would not augur well for the party.
It may be recalled here that two groups of Youth Congress leaders clashed with each other on the foundation day. Both the groups also lodged complaints against each other with the police. Meanwhile, it's learnt that the party leadership is likely to discuss the developments in the Warangal Congress in a few days.
