Hyderabad: A political confrontation inside the Telangana Congress has reportedly taken an ugly turn in the national capital, with a heated exchange between Minister C Damodar Raja Narasimha and Congress MLA from Jukkal T Laxmi Kantha Rao at Delhi's Shangri-La Hotel triggering fresh discussions within party circles.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, several ministers, MLAs and other senior Congress leaders are currently in New Delhi to participate in the INDIA bloc rally scheduled to be held at Ramlila Maidan.
The incident, reportedly witnessed by several Congress MLAs in the hotel lobby, is said to have erupted over differences concerning organisational appointments in Sangareddy district, particularly the selection of the District Congress Committee (DCC) president and other key party positions. What appeared to be a disagreement over party affairs allegedly escalated into a fierce verbal confrontation between the two leaders.
The appointment of the Sangareddy DCC president has reportedly become a contentious issue, with competing preferences and recommendations emerging from different sections of the Congress leadership. The disagreement over the distribution of organisational positions is believed to have triggered the exchange between the minister and the MLA.
Sources close to Laxmikantha Rao claim that the discussion quickly turned personal, with the minister allegedly using objectionable language against the MLA.
At his close associates, Laxmikantha Rao reportedly alleged that the minister threatened to take him into a room and physically assault him. The MLA is said to have expressed deep anguish over the alleged remarks, particularly because the confrontation reportedly took place in front of other legislators at a prominent hotel in Delhi. The incident allegedly left those present surprised as the exchange between the two leaders intensified.
According to people close to the him, Laxmikantha Rao has already brought the incident to the attention of the TPCC President Bomma Mahesh Kumar Goud. He is reportedly considering taking the matter to the Congress high command and lodging a formal complaint with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Meanwhile, The incident has once again drawn attention to disagreements within the Telangana Congress over party appointments and political influence. While ministers have their own political responsibilities and organisational networks, elected legislators also seek a say in decisions affecting their respective political constituencies and districts.