HYDERABAD: AICC in-charge for Telangana Meenakshi Natarajan on Tuesday stressed the importance of promoting women leaders in the party at her review meetings with party leaders of Medak, Hydeabad and Warangal district.
The AICC in charge, who interacted with them at MLA quarters, asked them to encourage the participation of women in party and facilitate that they are nominated to positions both in party and government.
Natarajan also advised according priority to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), minorities, and Backward Classes (BCs) for party roles.
Besides, she instructed that 80% of party or nominated positions be allocated to leaders below 50 years of age, with the remaining 20% reserved for those above 50.
The review meeting was attended by District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents, MLAs, and senior leaders from Medak, Hyderabad, and Warangaly.
According to sources, Meenakshi Natarajan sought updates on the ruling Congress government’s implementation of welfare schemes and the distribution of ration cards across the state.
During the discussions, Natarajan inquired about the preparedness of party cadre for the upcoming local body elections. She specifically asked about the strengths and weaknesses of the Congress in various Assembly segments to strategize effectively.
Sources revealed that Natarajan directed leaders to prioritise original Congress members in constituencies where Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs have defected to the Congress, stressign that a 70% preference be given for old guards and 30% for new entrants. Some leaders reportedly raised concerns about MLAs being sidelined.
Nominated posts
Sources indicated that Natarajan directed DCCs to submit reports or recommendations for nominated posts, such as directors or members of state commissions and boards, proposing two leaders from each Assembly constituency.
These appointments are expected within the next ten days, ahead of the local body elections. The planned padyatra by Natarajan and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, originally scheduled from July 31 to August 6, is likely to be postponed.
The postponement is attributed to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, ministers, MLAs, MLCs, MPs, and other key leaders traveling to Delhi to meet the President of India.
The delegation aims to pressure the Union government to clear the ordinance amending Panchayat Raj Act, 2018 remvoing 50 per cent cap on reservations in local body elections and the two bills pending with her which sought to provide 42% reservations to the BCs in local body elections, education & employment.
Preparations for local body polls
During discussions, Natarajan enquired about the preparedness of party cadre for the upcoming local body elections. She specifically asked about the strengths and weaknesses of the Congress in various Assembly segments to strategize effectively. Sources revealed that Natarajan directed leaders to prioritise original Congress members in constituencies where Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs have defected to the Congress, stressign that a 70% preference be given for old guards and 30% for new entrants. Some leaders reportedly raised concerns about MLAs being sidelined.