Congress intensifies push for BC quota, local body polls in Telangana with padyatra, rural outreach

Hyderabad: From July 31 to August 6, Telangana Congress president Mahesh Kumar Goud and All India Congress Committee in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan are going to embark on padyatra and shramdaan programs in the State.

According to the Congress party, the primary objective of this program is:

- Deepen the understanding of Congress party policies among the public.

- Strengthen the party organisationally

- Inform citizens about the development and welfare programs being implemented by the Congress government

- Facilitate interaction between leaders, party workers and activists

These initiatives are being taken to prepare the cadre for the upcoming local body elections, say insiders.

Questions raised on this initiative

The padyatra and shramdaan are in being done in districts where the Congress is not able to garner enough support.

The districts are Nizamabad, Adilabad, Ranga Reddy, Medak, Warangal and Karimnagar.

A senior member of the Congress party explained, “On one side, chief minister A Revanth Reddy, his ministers and MPs are going to camp in Delhi for the Backward Classes reservation bill. On the other hand, Meenakshi Natarajan and Mahesh Goud will move in those districts where the Congress needs good support. Presently, these are dominated by Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Bharatiya Janata Party. Inroads in the local body polls and also strengthening the workers are required.”

Time factor

The BC bill has become a contentious issue in Telangana.

With the all-out political slugfest with the Central government over the bill, questions are being raised about how this will pan out for the State. According to sources, the BJP is looking for an opportunity to claim credit for the bill and till they find that, they will not let the bill pass at the Centre.

The Congress is using all the pressure tactics to tell the people of Telangana and also the people of India that the BJP is not for the welfare of BCs and will do nothing to uplift them.

Between these two parties, the BCs are confused and divided as they have hopes on this bill to bring about the much-wanted change in their communities in terms of opportunities and social justice.