Cong leaders split over CM’s PowerPoint presentation

Nalgonda: The top two brass of the Congress giving different opinions on the same issue made the differences among them public. At a press meet held here on Friday, TPCC chief and Huzurnagar MLA N Uttam Kumar Reddy opposed the PowerPoint presentation (PPT) on irrigation projects by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in the House while within 24 hours, CLP Deputy floor leader and Nalgonda MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy appreciated KCR’s PPT at a press meet held here on Saturday.

Describing the presentation as a public cheating presentation, Uttam Kumar Reddy questioned about the government’s 2BHK programme, 3 acres of land to dalits, redesigning of proposed irrigation projects on River Godavari. On the other hand, Komatireddy said it was a vision documentary.

He thanked the TRS government for deciding to complete his dream project Brahmana Vellemla lift irrigation project by next year, which would supply irrigation water to one lakh acres of land. He also made positive comments on another project, Srisailam tunnel project, which is designed to cater the irrigation needs of the district.

Foundation stone to both the projects was laid by former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who is political guru of Komatireddy brothers. Komatireddy’s speed and intimacy with YSR, with whose blessings he entered the politics, created political rivalry with other Congress leaders, including Uttam Kumar Reddy, who entered politics with the blessings of Congress high command.

After becoming the CM, YSR giving berth to Komatireddy as MLA in the cabinet added fuel to the differences among the party leaders. After YSR’s untimely death, the Congress leaders in the district formed a group to put a check to Komatireddy brothers. To protect their political career, Komatireddy brothers took active part in Telangana agitation and organised several programmes to attract the people of this region.

Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, who was then Bhongir MP, raised pro-Telangana voice in the Parliament and before the high command and his brother MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy resigned and took to fasting for two weeks in support of separate Telangana State.The then CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy giving cabinet berth to his close aide Uttam Kumar Reddy had further widened the gap between Uttam and Komatireddy.

After Telangana State formation, Congress high command made Ponnala Laxmaiah as TPCC president and Uttam was made the working president of Nalgonda. In 2014 elections, under the leadership of Ponnala Laxmaiah, Congress won only 24 assembly seats and two MP seats in Telangana.

In the same elections, Komatireddy won from Nalgonda for the record fourth time where as his brother Rajagopal Reddy lost his MP seat from Bhongir. Whereas Uttam Kumar Reddy won from Huzurnagar assembly constituency and his wife, Padmavathi also won from Kodad. There were allegations that both Komatireddy and Uttam tried to defeat each other by funding rival candidates in their respective constituencies.

Disappointed with the poor performance of Ponnala Laxmaiah, the high command had made Uttam as TPCC chief and deputed Bhatti Vikramarka of Khammam district as the working president. Komatireddy Venkat Reddy openly opposed the high command decision and declared that he will not cooperate with the TPCC chief.

Later with the intervention of some mediators, the differences between the duo were cleared temporarily. Later, Komatireddy became deputy floor leader of the party in the House and senior leader Jana Reddy as the party floor leader of the assembly. The differences in the party came to the fore again during the MLC local body elections, when Komatireddy Venkat Reddy’s brother Rajagopal Reddy contested for the post.

After initial opposition from Suryapet former MLA Ramreddy Damodar Reddy and other leaders, with the intervention of MP Gutha Sukender Reddy, all Congress leaders, including TPCC chief Uttam finally agreed to give B-Form to Rajagopal, with certain conditions. Rajagopal won Nalgonda local body MLC seat with a thumping majority.

It should be noted here that TPCC president Uttam neither participated in the nomination rally nor in the victory march of Rajagopal Reddy. After MLC elections, Komatireddy brothers and Uttam never shared a common dais. According to reliable sources, it was alleged that Komatireddy has an eye on TPCC chief post as it would pave way to CM post, if time permits.

There was another allegation on him that he is ready to join TRS if Chief Minister KCR agrees to his proposals in regard to politics and contracts. It was alleged that Komatireddy brothers and their associates got the tenders worth Rs 950 crores of Palamur lift irrigation project.