HYDERABAD: The Congress high command has decided to accord permission to any Congress leader who wishes to undertake a padayatra in the state, deviating from its earlier stand of not giving permissions for padayatras as the leadership felt it would lead to disunity among the cadres.
AICC in-charge secretary NS Bosu Raju has hinted that the any Congress leader could undertake a padayatra and the names of interested persons will be sent to the AICC.
Earlier, several Congress leaders wanted to launch padayatras on their own after PCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy had launched bus yatra. Former minister DK Aruna, Nalgonda leader Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, A Revanth Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar wanted to undertake padayatras. Even veteran leader V Hanumantha Rao declared that he would undertake a rath yatra.
But the high command did not give permission to them sensing that it would cause disunity among cadres instead of strengthening the party. Now, the high command appears to have succumbed to the pressure of state leaders in the run-up to the general election.
Meanwhile, Bosu Raju went to the residence of former minister Mukesh Goud and interacted with him in the wake of speculation that Goud would join the TRS.
Raju said later that he had discussed party matters with Goud and there was nothing more to it. Goud was in touch with the party in-charges and PCC chief,” Raju said.
Mukesh Goud asserted that he was very active in the Congress and recalled that he had worked for the party’s victory in GHMC elections by touring all wards in the city.