Two leaders of the Congress Party in Telangana have embarked on a 'padayatra', a walkathon covering different parts of the state. A Revanth Reddy, the state Congress Party President, and Bhatti Vikramarka, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) chief, are leading the yatras that are part of 'Hath Se Hath Jodo' yatras conducted by the Congress.
Revanth Reddy represents the new set of migratory leaders who have recently joined Congress from other parties, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Bhatti, on the other hand, represents Congress old timers and long-standing loyalists.
Notably, the two leaders also represent different communities that have been the backbone of the Congress party for generations. Revanth is from the Reddy community, which has always occupied leadership roles, while the Dalit community, to who Bhatti belongs to, is believed to have sided with the party during consecutive elections, voting it to power.
Revanth Reddy, the state Congress Party President, speaking at a meet | Twitter
The Congress High Command has given permission to these two leaders to go on the walkathon ahead of the state Assembly elections, scheduled to be held at the end of this year. However, the question remains as to whether the Congress Party's two-pronged strategy will pay off.
In the past, the Congress High Command has been averse to the idea of political padyatras that could elevate regional leaders and transform them into a brand. Prior to 2004 Assembly elections, the Congress high command was reluctant to permit former Chief Minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) to undertake state-wide padayatra, which ultimately got the Congress party into power.
When YSR undertook padayatra, V. Hanumanth Rao another senior leader also sought permission of the party high command but wasn't allowed.
YSR’s son, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy too had to face similar situation when he was in Congress back in 2010 when he wanted to go on a tour meeting his father’s followers who got affected by his death. However, its a different scenario now.
The Congress party's permission for the walkathons of two leaders in Telangana may be an attempt to keep the two camps busy and in good spirits, energize the party from both ends, and keep infighting low. However, some political analysts feel that multiple boots on the ground of a single party shows signs of internal squabbles and gives the impression that party high command has no grip or control over party affairs in the state. "It is a divided house where nobody is acknowledging others contribution," said an analyst.
Manikrao Thakare, the new state incharge of the party, is trying hard to manage different camps and has been staying in the state for most of the month. There have been rebels who have openly defied the party in the past, and the high command has failed to take strong action against them.
According to a source within the Congress party, the latest walkathons are also a way to cover the areas that have turned into no-go zones for Revanth Reddy. Local Congress leaders in Nalgona, Medk, and Warangal have vowed not to allow Revanth on their soil, and Bhatti has been tasked with covering those areas under his padayatras.
Overall, the Congress Party's strategy seems to have worked for the time-being, keeping the warring leaders busy in their sneakers.
