The corridors of Gandhi Bhavan, the historic headquarters of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), witnessed high drama and emotional outbursts today as veteran leader and T. Jeevan Reddy staged a walkout. The cause of his intense frustration was the presence of Jagtial MLA Dr. Sanjay Kumar at a high-level review meeting for the Nizamabad Parliamentary constituency. The incident has once again brought to the fore the internal friction within the Congress party regarding the lateral entry and involvement of BRS legislators.
The Spark of Contention
The meeting, intended to strategize for the party’s future in the Nizamabad region, was attended by TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy. However, the atmosphere turned tense the moment Jeevan Reddy noticed Sanjay Kumar, who won the 2023 Assembly elections on a Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) ticket, seated among the Congress stalwarts.
Jeevan Reddy, a seasoned politician with a career spanning over four decades, did not hide his displeasure. He confronted the party leadership right in front of the ministers, questioning the logic and ethics of inviting an opposition MLA to a core party review. Unable to reconcile with the situation, Jeevan Reddy apologized to the PCC leadership and walked out of the meeting in protest, leaving the venue visibly shaken.
Betrayal of the Grassroots Worker
Speaking to the media outside Gandhi Bhavan, Jeevan Reddy’s words were laced with pain and a sense of betrayal. He highlighted the “identity crisis” that long-time Congress loyalists are currently facing. For ten years, Congress workers in Telangana fought a bitter battle against the BRS government, often facing harassment, legal cases, and political isolation.
“We fought against the BRS’s autocratic rule for a decade. Our workers sacrificed everything to keep the Congress flag flying. Now, seeing a BRS MLA who still officially maintains his BRS affiliation in legal affidavits sitting in the heart of Gandhi Bhavan is an insult to every worker,” Jeevan Reddy lamented. He questioned how the leadership expected him to go back to his constituency and face the workers who were “humiliated and oppressed” by the very people now being welcomed with open arms.
A Conflict of Ideology and Constitution
Jeevan Reddy’s protest was not merely personal; he framed it as a violation of the party’s core principles and democratic values. He pointed out that the current trend of entertaining defectors or “associate” members from the BRS goes against the vision of Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sonia Gandhi.
He argued that the Congress party has always stood as a guardian of the Constitution and democratic norms. By allowing an MLA who hasn’t technically resigned from his parent party to participate in internal Congress deliberations, the party is risking its moral high ground. “This meeting is a blot on democracy and the Constitution,” he stated firmly, suggesting that such moves undermine the anti-defection spirit that the national leadership often speaks about.
Loyalty vs. Political Expediency
The veteran leader emphasized that his loyalty to the Congress remains unshaken. “I have been with this party for 40 years. I have seen the highs and the lows. Congress is my home,” he remarked, clarifying that his walkout was a protest against a specific event and not a resignation from the party.
However, his outburst highlights a growing divide in Telangana Congress. While the state leadership and the government seem focused on “political consolidation” by drawing BRS MLAs into their fold to strengthen their numbers, the “old guard” like Jeevan Reddy views this as a dilution of the party’s soul. He warned that if the party continues to prioritize newcomers over those who stood by it during the “darkest ten years,” it would lose the trust of its foundational vote base.
The Road Ahead
As Jeevan Reddy left the premises, the incident left the TPCC leadership in a delicate position. While the party wants to weaken the BRS by encouraging defections, the emotional cost of alienating senior leaders and grassroots cadres is becoming increasingly apparent. The “Jagtial Rivalry” between Jeevan Reddy and Sanjay Kumar has now become a symbolic battleground for the soul of the Telangana Congress.
Deputy Editor, Prime Post
Anand Gantela is a seasoned media professional with nearly three decades of experience across the spectrum of Indian journalism. Having worked extensively in both print and broadcast media, he has held key positions at renowned outlets such as Prajashakthi, Andhra Bhoomi, Mudra, Media India, Siti Cable, Mana Telugu, and Maa TV. From ground-level reporting to managing news bureaus and overseeing bulletin production, Anand has witnessed the evolution of news firsthand. His wealth of experience reflects a deep understanding of the dynamic and ever- evolving landscape of news reporting.
