Former Congress minister Danam Nagender plays hide and seek post resignation

Hyderabad: Former minister Danam Nagender, who quit the Congress on Friday, did not take telephone calls from party leaders who were trying to persuade him to stay. The former minister, meanwhile, turned up to meet TRS minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav.

After receiving Mr Nagender’s resignation letter, TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy went to his residence but he was not at home. Mr Reddy tried calling Mr Nagender, but his phone was switched off.

The TPCC president. and party leaders K. Jana Reddy, Shabbir Ali and V. Hanumantha Rao met at Mr Jana Reddy’s residence and discussed measures to stop Mr Nagender from leaving the party.

After the meeting, Mr Hanumantha Rao told mediapersons that they were not able to trace Mr Nagender and said they would “try to meet him till the last minute.” He said Mr Nagender’s resignation was a loss to the party in Hyderabad.

He said he did not know why Mr Nagender felt hurt and what made him leave the party. Asked about another former minister, Mr Mukesh Goud, leaving the Congress, Mr Hanumantha Rao said, “It is an old story, Mukesh wants to join the TRS.”

While the Congress leaders were at Mr Jana Reddy’s residence, Mr Nagender met with TRS minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav for about an hour. 

Mr Srinivas Yadav said that they were friends for 30 years, irrespective of which party they were in. When asked about 

Mr Nagender joining the TRS, Mr Srinivas Yadav said, “Whoever wants to join the TRS is welcome.”

He said Mr Nagender would speak to the media on Saturday. “Danam is a strong leader in Hyderabad city, he has background and image. If he wants to join the TRS he is most welcome and the TRS will be further strengthened in the city,” Mr Srinivas Yadav said.

After the meeting, Mr Nagender left without speaking to the media.

Congress rudderless, says Danam

In a major political setback to the Congress in Hyderabad city, former minister and former president of the Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee, Danam Nagendar, resigned from the party on Friday.

Mr Nagender, who was close to the late Congress Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, and has a strong position in the city Congress, in his resignation letter complained that the TPCC leadership was not taking cognizance of his views.

'In recent times I have tried my best to explain to the party high command both at state and centre, the changing political scenario in Telangana state with particular reference to the welfare of Backward Classes which comprise more than 50 per cent of the population, but all my appeals have fallen on deaf ears,' he wrote.

He said lack of coordination, lack of dialogue with the cadre, and neglect of grassroots leaders has left the party rudderless, with no sense of direction. He said infighting, lack of leadership and disenchantment in the cadre has affected the morale of the party. Mr Nagender said, "these circumstances are forcing me to take the step of resigning from the Congress party."

He said as president of Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee (GHCC) deliberate attempts have been made to dilute his role and reach over 24 assembly constituencies. He said Greater Mumbai and Delhi presidents have jurisdiction over the peripheral areas as well, but in the case of GHCC, for petty gains the control over GHCC has been a source of confusion and anarchy.

Mr Nagender was also upset over the appointment of Hyderabad city Congress president.

After getting the resignation letter, TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy went to Mr Nagender's residence but the latter was not at home. The two spoke over the phone later. Mr Nagender will reveal his future course of action on Saturday.