HYDERABAD: At a time when the Lok Sabha elections are underway, reports of tension among some ministers in the Cabinet led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy have set alarm bells ringing in the Congress.
According to sources, ticket distribution is being seen as the cause of the tension as some ministers had been lobbying hard for nominations to their close ones. Also, there are reports of one-upmanship in the upper echelons of the Telangana Congress resurfacing, escalating into what can only be described as a cold war within the ranks.
Revanth’s recent remarks have only exacerbated the existing tensions, further dividing the already strained relationships among the ministers, insiders say. They say that the repercussions of these remarks are palpable at a time the party is fending off a tough challenge from the BJP and the BRS.
The delay in finalisation of the ticket for the Khammam Lok Sabha constituency has escalated the tension. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy are both lobbying for tickets for their relatives. This has led to a standoff that threatens to damage unity in the party. The fact that the third minister from the erstwhile district, Thummala Nageswara Rao, too is keen that his son Yugandhar is given the ticket has added fuel to the fire, paving the way for a rivalry that could impact the upcoming elections in a major way.
Similar tensions are unfolding in North Telangana, where long-standing rivalries between ministers have resurfaced. Despite attempts to portray unity in public, old animosities remain unresolved, Congress insiders say. The announcement of candidates has actually reignited some feuds, they said.
Divisions within the party ranks are becoming increasingly apparent, as ministers openly align with different candidates. In fact, the situation is such that one of the ministers from the region is supporting a candidate while another is supporting a party leader who has been given a nominated post. This is inadvertently forcing the party cadre to choose sides, hurting the party.
In Nalgonda, Revanth’s comments about Komatireddy Venkat Reddy’s leadership abilities have sent shockwaves through the party. The remarks have not only raised fears of a cold war between Venkat and other senior party leaders, but have also turned the focus on power dynamics within the Congress.
Party veterans fear that some leaders who opposed Revanth’s leadership before the Assembly elections may take offense at the remarks. Revanth’s comments have also left senior ministers wondering about their logic and timing, especially when they consider themselves to be more deserving for the post.
The chief minister’s remarks have also given ammunition to the BJP, as evident from the comments of BJPLP leader Aleti Maheswar Reddy. The BJP leader said that Revanth is likely to go to jail in the vote-for-cash case which the Supreme Court will start hearing in July. Maheswar Reddy said that if this happens, Venkat will become the chief minister.
Amidst the political turmoil, candidates are left in a state of anxiety, unsure of how the escalating tensions will impact their electoral prospects while the party cadre are on the edge.