Congress favours only one section: Danam Nagendar

Hyderabad: Former minister Danam Nagendar alleged that the Congress was not giving due importance to leaders from the Backward Classes and weaker sections and all important posts were held by members of one community. He said he had quit the Congress and joined the TRS to save his self-respect.

Briefing the media on why he quit the party, Mr Nagendar said the Congress did not take any steps to give importance to leaders from BC communities even after senior leaders like D. Srinivas and K. Keshav Rao left the party. He said even in the bus yatra leaders of one community were addressing the public.

He said former PCC chief Ponnala Laxmaiah was not informed of the bus yatra in his native district Warangal. Senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao was not getting importance in the party. Both belonged to BC communities.

He said TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy did not know what was happening in the Congress. 

He said the party needed a leader like Dr Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy, which is impossible now. Mr Nagender, a strong follower of the late Chief Minister, said there was no leader in the Congress to protect the interests of workers, BCs and the weaker sections.

He said only Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was giving importance to BCs and weaker sections and had introduced several welfare schemes and programmes for them.

He said he had explained to AICC president Rahul Gandhi and Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy the feelings of BCs and weaker sections but corrective measures were not taken. “When there is no self respect, it is not proper to continue,” he said.

Mr Nagendar said several TPCC office bearers, former GHMC corporators and some party leaders would be joining the TRS with him.  He said he would show his strength the day he joins the TRS. He will announce the date later.

Mr Nagendar said he had not been given any assurance regarding his position in the TRS. He would fulfil whatever responsibilitie he gets, he said.

He said some AICC leaders from Delhi had called him in the morning and requested him not to leave the party. He he had informed them that he could not go back on his decision.

He said that the AICC had decided to make him TPCC working president post to him. It would not be proper for him to quit the party after the AICC appoints him to the post and had therefore announced his resignation, Mr Nagendar said.