All India Congress Committee steps in to settle differences

Khammam: Unsettled by the decision of Yellandu MLA Koram Kanakaiah to part ways with the party, the AICC on Monday began steps to end infighting in the Khammam unit.

The fact that infighting reached its peak could be gauged by the fact that Mr Kanakaiah, a staunch supporter of former minister R. Venkat Reddy, quit the party, along with two ZPTCs and two MPP presidents, jolted the top Congress leaders. The MLA joined the TRS along with his supporters.

The infighting has gained intensity ever since Telangana state Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao began efforts to wean away important leaders from other parties to strengthen his own party.

Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chowdary and former minister R. Venkat Reddy were earlier at loggerheads on various issues in the party and the tussle between them came to the fore in the PCC meeting chaired by Digvijay Singh recently in Hyderabad.

To settle the rivalry between these groups,  and get the cadre ready for Khammam Corporation elections, AICC incharge R.L. Kunthia came to Hyderabad on Monday.

Ms Chowdary, Mr Venkat Reddy, former Deputy Speaker M. Bhatti Vikramarka, Khammam MLA P. Ajay Kumar, MLC P. Sudhakar Reddy and others were asked to attend the meeting at the Gandhi Bhavan.

When asked about the meeting in Hyderabad, one of the MLA said, "What will the AICC leaders do? Nobody is in a mood to listen to our suggestions because the party is unable to control them."

Sources said that the AICC is determined to warn the leaders not to resort to petty politics for their vested interests.

PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah was also directed to deal with the groups in Khammam Congress with an iron hand.Meanwhile, second rung Congress leaders are planning to start a campaign to "end groupism and save the party".

Gandhi Patham leader B. Sankar Reddy said that the membership drive was also not as expected in the district due to the group rivalry.