Deepening rift within the Telangana Congress

In lower than 40 days, the Congress authorities will mark two years in energy in Telangana. However, the run-up to the occasion has been marred by controversies involving Cabinet Ministers, inflicting embarrassment to the occasion and the federal government.

The two newest episodes of outbursts by Cabinet Ministers haven’t solely put the federal government within the dock, however pressured senior Congress leaders to intervene. The Deputy Chief Minister, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, the All India Congress Committee accountable for Telangana, Meenakshi Natarajan, and the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president, B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, all stepped in to diffuse the scenario.

First, Forest Minister Konda Surekha triggered a political storm when she accused Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy of making an attempt to favour his aides within the tenders for the ₹71 crore Samakka Sarakka tribal truthful, which attracts over 2 crore devotees. Mr. Reddy brushed apart the fees, however the accusation gave the Opposition ammunition to focus on the federal government. The authorities eliminated N. Sumanth, the Officer on Special Duty to the Forest Minister, for skilled misconduct. When Task Force personnel arrived on the Minister’s residence to take Mr. Sumanth into custody, there was excessive drama.

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Amid this, Ms. Konda Surekha’s daughter made sure remarks in opposition to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and different Congress leaders, which didn’t go down effectively in occasion circles. The Deputy Chief Minister and the TPCC chief needed to step in to de-escalate the battle. Ms. Konda Surekha skipped a Cabinet assembly as a type of protest amid the interior rift, triggering hypothesis about her subsequent transfer.

Even earlier than the mud settled over this episode, the applying by senior IAS officer, S.A.M. Rizvi, in search of voluntary retirement from service, caught the federal government off guard. Mr. Rizvi, referred to as an upright officer, is alleged to have rubbed the Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao the unsuitable method over the affairs within the Excise and Prohibition Department. In response to his plea, the Excise Minister wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary demanding that the applying be placed on maintain till an inquiry into the officers’ tenure within the division was accomplished. Finally, as a harm management measure, the Excise Minister addressed a press convention to clear the air on the problem.

The Congress authorities has, by and huge, managed to deflect criticism by the BJP and the BRS on “unkept guarantees”. However, inner bickering stays an issue. A current controversial comment made by Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar about Social Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar took on a big caste dimension. Mr. Adluri Lakshman, a Dalit Minister, took exception to a phrase utilized by Mr. Prabhakar. Scheduled Caste organisations rallied behind him, forcing the TPCC chief to pacify the aggrieved Minister. The Labour Minister, Vivek Venkataswamy, has stated he’s being focused due to his caste, whereas the Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Vakiti Srihari, has been sulking publicly about his portfolio. All this has added to the occasion’s woes.

Also Read | Ponnam Prabhakar apologises to Adluri Laxman Kumar, says concern resolved

In the 16-member State Cabinet, together with the Chief Minister, in opposition to a full power of 18, it seems that senior Ministers have been charting an impartial path with minimal interference from Mr. Revanth Reddy. Former cricketer Md Azharuddin was inducted into the Cabinet in an obvious bid to woo the minorities. The occasion management says the AICC management had clearly stated that senior Ministers needs to be given a free hand.

The Opposition is struggling — the BRS faces insurrection from Okay. Chandrashekar Rao’s daughter Kavitha, whereas the BJP grapples with inner groupism — however they’ve now discovered purpose to focus on the Congress. Sensing that issues might exit of hand if the Ministers should not disciplined, the Chief Minister and the occasion’s Central management despatched a robust warning in the course of the newest spherical of conferences with senior leaders in New Delhi. What is shocking is that Mr. Revanth Reddy, normally vocal, seems to be taking a softer strategy in dealing with the infighting. It appears he’s biding his time, not eager to confront one other scenario much like the present turmoil in Karnataka. The onus lies on the Central management and Mr. Revanth Reddy to ship out a robust message in opposition to the erring leaders. Else, the controversies give the impression that Mr. Revanth Reddy has misplaced management over the occasion’s affairs.