Jagtial: `Sidelined’ Congress leader Jeevan Reddy expresses discontent with party; may part ways

Jagtial: Crisis in Congress has deepened after party cadres in Jagtial decided to hold an emergency meeting at the residence of senior former minister T Jeevan Reddy.

This came after Reddy, who has been sidelined, expressed dissatisfaction with the party in Telangana.

For the last 20 months, Reddy has written a series of letters expressing this displeasure.

Having spent over four decades with the Congress, the veteran leader recently hinted at a potential exit, causing a stir in the state's political circles.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Mahesh Kumar Goud, AICC Secretary Sachin Sawant, and Government Whip Adi Srinivas arrived in Jagtial to cool tempers.

The delegation's mission is seen as a "damage control" exercise to pacify the disgruntled leader before he takes any final decision regarding his future.

Why is Jeevan Reddy Unhappy?

Jeevan Reddy’s grievances aren't new; they are the result of nearly two years of "mental agony" and perceived neglect. Here are the core issues:

The "Infiltrator" vs. "Loyalist" Conflict

The primary trigger was the induction of Dr. M. Sanjay Kumar (the BRS MLA who defeated Jeevan Reddy in 2023) into the Congress in June 2024.

The Grievance: Jeevan Reddy was reportedly not consulted before his arch-rival was welcomed into the party by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

The Impact: He feels that "turncoats" who spent years attacking the Congress are now being given priority over loyalists who stood by the party during its ten years in the opposition.

The Murder of Maru Ganga Reddy

In October 2024, the political rivalry turned personal and violent. Maru Ganga Reddy, a close aide and 40-year loyalist of Jeevan Reddy, was murdered in broad daylight in Jagtial. Jeevan Reddy blamed the followers of the newly inducted MLA Sanjay Kumar for the murder. He publicly questioned how Congress workers could be murdered under their "own government" and slammed the leadership for failing to provide security to the grassroots cadre.

Sidelining in Local Governance

Jeevan Reddy has alleged that he has been systematically "scuttled" in his own constituency:

B-Forms & Tickets: During local body and municipal processes, he claimed his supporters were denied party tickets (B-Forms), while followers of the defected BRS leaders received them.

Institutional Neglect: He feels the state leadership has allowed the defected MLA to interfere in internal Congress affairs, effectively making the senior leader a "stranger in his own home."

Lack of Recognition: Despite his status as a six-time MLA and a former Minister, Jeevan Reddy feels the current PCC and state leadership have ignored his seniority. He has frequently stated that he can no longer bear the "humiliation and isolation" he has faced over the last 20 months.