TPCC and AICC discuss name for party meeting in Khammam

KHAMMAM: What’s in a name? A lot, say Congressmen. Intense discussions are on among the leaders of TPCC and AICC over giving a name to the party’s largely planned meeting in Khammam on July 2.

AICC leaders are keen on giving the meet a name that would be appealing to all and satisfy all sections within the party. Rahul Gandhi is also involved in the name-hunt and he is expected to be the chief guest.

CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka's People's March (Pada yatra) will culminate in Khamman on July 2, on its 109th day, covering nearly 1260km across the state. But, some leaders do not want the highlight to be exclusively on Bhatti.

In this context, a set of Congress leaders proposed to the AICC that the name must reflect the mood of the People’s March (People’s March Mugimpu Sabha) by the CLP leader.

A section of the Congress leaders feel that Bhatti’s Padayatra will lose its political and social relevance if some leaders joining the party are highlighted as the main event at the meeting. This was the second such padayatra undertaken by Bhatti, after YS Rajasekhar Reddy did so.

Bhatti’s pada yatra got a good response from the people and he raised so many questions on various issues against the ruling BRS government. Thousands of people met him during the padayatra and poured out their grievances. The Peoples March began in Pipri village in the Adilabad district on March 16.

Notably, Bhatti Vikramarka’s People’s March (padayatra) will culminate at an event where former MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and his associates including some former MLAs and senior leaders are joining the Congress on July 2.

Some Congress leaders are trying to highlight Srinivas Reddy’s entry to the Congress party more than the conclusion of the Bhatti yatra and feel the name for the meeting must be linked to this. Bhatti Vikramarka’s group says this is unacceptable. The emphasis should be on the conclusion of the Yatra, they say.

Srinivas Reddy’s group proposed the name ‘Congress Jana Garjana’ for the meeting.

There are also feelings in the party that it is not good mixing the two events on the same stage. There could be two meetings, they say. But, the party leadership says it is not possible for Rahul Gandhi to come twice.

It is learnt that only Srinivas Reddy and his associates will join the Congress on July 2. Jupalli and his associates will join the party at a meeting on July 14 or 16 at Kollapur in Mahaboobnagar.

According to party sources, a pylon will be erected to mark the conclusion of the People’s March in Khammam town and it will be unveiled on July 2.

A massive rally of more than 50,000 people would be taken out in Khammam town on July 2 to mark the conclusion of the padayatra.

The party sources said 15 committees were formed to make the meeting successful. Committees were also formed in all the mandals to mobilize the public for the meeting. The plan is to mobilize 3 lakh people for the meeting.

Nearly 1,500 artists from different cultural troupes and drummers showcasing the traditions and cultures of Telangana will take part in the rally.