Dissidents seek PCC rejig
Rahul to have one-on-one meeting with dissident Congress leaders later
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has reportedly accepted the request of dissident Telangana Congress leaders for individual meetings with them. The dissidents want Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Uttam Kumar Reddy and Congress Legislature Party leader K. Jana Reddy replaced.
About 25 dissident leaders, including TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, senior legislator D.K. Aruna, expelled legislator Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, newcomer A. Reventh Reddy, and party veteran Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy met Mr Gandhi on Wednesday in Delhi.
They were with Mr Gandhi for just three minutes during which they submitted a note seeking permission for important leaders to conduct padayatras in all 119 Assembly constituencies in the state. Mr Gandhi said that he will consider their request.
They asked Mr Gandhi to have one-on-one interaction with some important senior leaders who wanted to express their opinion on party issues. They submitted a list of 40 senior leaders. He assured them that the meetings will be held soon.
The dissident leaders want to change the TPCC president, CLP leader and AICC in-charge.
A senior leader said, “We are all unanimous in the demand of changing three important leaders to face the coming elections. With the present team, the Congress cannot fight the TRS in the elections.” The dissident leaders want Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy to be replaced by former ministers and MLAs Komatireddy Venkata Reddy or D.K. Aruna. They want CLP leader K Jana Reddy to be replaced with TPCC working president and MLA Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. The AICC in-charge R.C. Khuntia should be replaced by AICC senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
AICC in-charge R.C. Khuntia, however, denied any leader complaining against anyone.