Discontent Erupts in Telangana Congress Over Key Appointments
Significant unrest and dissatisfaction have emerged within the ranks of the ruling Congress party in Hyderabad, following the Sunday announcement of new District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents by the All India Congress Committee (AICC). The move, intended to strengthen the party's grassroots structure, has instead sparked protests and resignations from senior members who feel sidelined.
Resignations and Protests Mark the Day
The discontent became immediately visible when DY Giri, a former official spokesperson for the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) and in-charge for Dornakal, formally submitted his resignation. He presented his resignation to Meenakshi Natarajan, the AICC in-charge, as a direct protest against being overlooked for a presidential post.
This sentiment was echoed by several other aspirants who were not selected. They voiced strong dissatisfaction, arguing that the new appointments favored leaders and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who already hold one or two positions within the party. Meanwhile, they claimed, senior and loyal party workers, who have dedicated years to strengthening the Congress party at the grassroots level, were systematically ignored.
New Appointments Raise Eyebrows
The appointment of Syed Khalid Saifullah as the party's Hyderabad district president particularly raised questions among local leaders. Many stated they were unfamiliar with Saifullah, who is known to be a member of Rahul Gandhi's team and works in the data analysing cell of the AICC. While aspirants refrained from strong criticism due to his profile, they pointed out that he is originally from Kurnool, a detail that added to the perplexity surrounding the selection for a Hyderabad-centric role.
Adding to the chorus of concern was G Mohan Reddy, the former president of the Nalgonda District Youth Congress. He publicly expressed his concerns, reinforcing the feelings of discontent shared by a considerable number of party workers across the districts.
Party Leadership's Defence
In response to the growing dissent, the TPCC leadership issued a clarification defending the selection process. They asserted that the appointments were not made arbitrarily. The leadership stated that AICC observers conducted extensive meetings in each district with party workers and consulted all relevant leaders before finalizing the decisions. The TPCC maintains that every appointment was made with the best interests of the party in mind, aiming to build a robust and effective organizational framework.
Despite this official stance, the wave of resignations and public expressions of dissatisfaction indicate a clear internal rift that the party leadership will need to address to maintain unity and morale among its core members.
