“Her appointment itself generated a lot of chatter. Obviously, she is preparing reports to be shared with the high command,” mentioned a Congress MP from Telangana.
“The idea is to listen to complaints, grievances and iron out the differences in the Congress ranks that are being exploited by the Opposition. The party has not been able to counter the Opposition even on social media, which should not have been the case.”
In her interactions, sources mentioned, Natarajan has emphasised the necessity to encourage individuals with robust grassroots connections and ideological constancy within the Congress’s state unit.
Beneath the management of newly appointed AICC Incharge Meenakshi Natarajan ji, chaired the Medak Lok Sabha constituency evaluate assembly at Gandhi Bhavan. With ministers, MLAs, MLCs, DCC presidents, contested candidates, and Congress-affiliated leaders, we bolstered our dedication… pic.twitter.com/ABnRK725RD
— Bomma Maheshkumar goud (@Bmaheshgoud6666) March 4, 2025
Nonetheless, the celebration’s resolution to call actor-turned-politician Vijayashanti as one of many three candidates for the upcoming elections to the state Legislative Council has landed Natarajan, who was named the AICC in-charge in February, in a spot.
“Vijayashanthi is anything but a committed, grassroots face. She started her political career with the BJP, switched to TRS (now BRS), and joined the Congress, only to quit,” one other senior Congress chief, who’s near Revanth Reddy, mentioned.
“Now she’s being rewarded with an MLC post. Just because her community is listed as Backward Class does not qualify her to become the party’s Backward Class face.”
Vijayashanti’s title additionally caught the CM unexpectedly, sources within the Telangana Congress mentioned, including that Reddy was lobbying for faces in his camp, akin to Vem Narender Reddy—an adviser to the state authorities.
However the celebration’s management can be conscious that the choice bears the stamp of not simply Natarajan however the Gandhi household, with whom Vijayashanti maintains shut ties.
Aside from Vijayashanti, the Congress has named Addanki Dayakar (Scheduled Caste) and Kethavath Shankar Naik (Scheduled Tribe) as its MLC candidates whereas setting apart one for the alliance accomplice Communist Celebration of India (CPI).
Whereas Vijayashanti’s election is a foregone conclusion because of the commanding numbers that the Congress enjoys within the Telangana Meeting, many within the celebration’s state unit are anticipating extra such selections that would carry different variations between the native and central leaderships to the floor.
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Comparable experiments in different states
Telangana is just not alone. The Congress excessive command seems to be finishing up related experiments elsewhere too, together with in Karnataka. A pacesetter of the Congress Karnataka unit instructed ThePrint, “The objective of the exercise is to check delivery on manifesto promises, new initiatives and district-specific data, and to keep a tab on the performance of each minister.”
Congress Karnataka normal secretary in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala has compiled efficiency evaluate studies of 31 ministers within the state cupboard, a minister within the Siddaramaiah-led cupboard mentioned on the situation of anonymity.
In Karnataka, the directions about submitting the report got in November final 12 months. “They also enquired about the regions we toured, the number of districts we visited, and other initiatives taken by us to connect with the people,” mentioned one other Karnataka minister, who requested to not be named.
With fixed squabbling and infighting inside the Congress in Karnataka—primarily over the CM’s chair with Deputy CM D.Ok. Shivakumar keen to exchange Siddaramaiah—the train can be more likely to show useful in eradicating non-performing ministers and placating dissidents, the minister mentioned.
“There is nothing wrong in them (high command) finding out what we have done. There is nothing controversial. It does not undermine the CM or deputy CM,” the second minister quoted above mentioned. “Ultimately, the CM, along with the party, makes someone a minister. Nobody (in Karnataka) is complaining or having any problems.”
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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