Hyderabad: Starting Wednesday, ministers will visit Gandhi Bhavan, the Congress state headquarters in Nampally, twice a week to strengthen the bond between the government, party leaders and the public. Ministers will be available on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 am to 2 pm.
Health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha will be the first to hold a session on Wednesday, followed by IT minister D. Sridhar Babu on Friday. This initiative comes following directions from newly-appointed TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud.
Goud has decided to revive the tradition of ministers' visits to Gandhi Bhavan, a practice that was prevalent during the late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s tenure in undivided Andhra Pradesh.
The schedule for these visits, running from September 25 to October 30, was released on Monday. The only exception is October 2, Gandhi Jayanti.
The schedule features ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy (October 4), Ponnam Prabhakar (October 9), Danasari Anasuya Seethakka (October 11), Komatireddy Venkat Reddy (October 16), Konda Surekha (October 18), Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy (October 23), Jupally Krishna Rao (October 25) and Tummala Nageswara Rao (October 30).
According to party sources, Gandhi Bhavan will offer easier access to the public than the Secretariat, where access is more restricted.
Goud, who assumed office on September 15, emphasised that bringing ministers to Gandhi Bhavan aligns with his key priorities. He has also requested Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to visit Gandhi Bhavan at least twice a month.
Party leaders hope this move will energise party workers and strengthen the Congress's outreach efforts ahead of upcoming local body elections.
Party circles believe that this practice not only fosters a direct relationship between the ministers and the public but also echoes the success seen in AIMIM's similar approach at Darussalam. As Congress reintroduces this system, party workers are optimistic about increased involvement in governance and government schemes.
