As usual, leaders in the Congress party started accusing each other openly and the turmoil between senior leaders broke out on Thursday. Former minister and GHCC president Danam Nagendar, who was reportedly planning to defect to the ruling party, lashed out at TPCC president Ponnala Laxmaiah and another senior leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy.
Marri, accompanied by party leaders on Thursday submitted a representation to Governor ESL Narasimhan on the local issues. But Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee president Danam Nagendar was conspicuously absent.
When asked about the absence of Danam, Marri said the former was not available to the party. Later, the delegation, along with TPCC president Ponnala Laxmaiah visited the Chest hospital at Erragadda. There also Danam was not seen. Aware of these developments, Danam felt he was being deliberately ignored by State party chief Ponnala as well as Marri. Thus a war of words began in the party.
Talking to mediapersons at his residence, Danam accused Ponnala of fuelling differences in the party. He also warned that if the party did not want his services then they could remove him from the GHCC chief post. Danam also lambasted Marri alleging that the latter was adopting “divide and rule” policy to harass the party leaders. He further alleged that in view of upcoming by-election in Sanathnagar, Marri was doing all these things. He also accused Shashidhar Reddy of doing nothing to strengthen the party.
It may be mentioned here that at the time of party’s internal meeting differences broke out in the presence of AICC leader Digvijay Singh. Digvijay had to intervene and warn Danam during the three-day brain storming meeting held at Gandhi Bhavan. At that time, Digvijay specifically called Danam and asked him whether he has interest or not to work for coming GHMC elections and strengthen the party in the City. In fact, Digvijay was not happy with the membership drive in the City under Danam Nagendar. Marri too gave room for speculations about his intention to join the ruling party at the Centre. On the whole, internal disputes in the party may affect the party’s performance in the coming byelections as well as GHMC elections. (NSS)
