Hyderabad: The Congress has long been synonymous with padayatras, right from Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ to even before that, the late YS Rajashekar Reddy’s historic padayatra in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. However, all the padayatras undertaken by state leaders have some history behind them, like in 2003 when YSR wanted to embark on a padayatra, the party high command made him wait for six months. After his demise, his son YS Jaganmohan Reddy too had to wait for a long time before he could begin the ‘Odarpu Yatra’. In 2023, when then TPCC president A Revanth Reddy wanted to begin a padayatra, the party high command directed then Congress Legislative Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to take out a padayatra from the other end of the state. All this had different political implications, and now when the party high command has suddenly directed AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natrajan to undertake a padayatra, eyebrows have been raised. While at first glance, many are seeing this as a move to boost the morale of party workers ahead of the local body elections, some believe that this is an attempt to get genuine feedback from leaders at the grassroots level about A. Revanth Reddy’s functioning as the Chief Minister. A few weeks ago, the Chief Minister had entrusted the task and responsibility of ensuring the success of the Congress in the local body elections to the district in-charge ministers. However, a few days later, the Chief Minister himself took over the responsibility. This move raised concerns in the party high command, and doubts were raised whether the Chief Minister himself being at the forefront of the local body election campaign would lead to a defeat. There were also allegations in the party that Revanth Reddy was adept at influencing party in-charges and ensuring that the party high command did not get the real information about the state of the state unit. This is said to be the reason why Rahul Gandhi had to appoint his close aide Meenakshi Natrajan as the new in-charge of Telangana and as seen, she has been thwarting Revanth Reddy’s plans since day one. For instance, some MLAs who supported the chief minister did not get a place in the cabinet and those whom he opposed were inducted into the cabinet. The selection of the Legislative Council members also sent a clear message from the party high command about who will take decisions. Against this backdrop, Natarajan’s padayatra becomes even more significant. More than the public, this exercise is being seen as an attempt to present the true picture of the Congress and its grassroots leaders in Telangana to the high command in Delhi. After Rahul Gandhi repeatedly attacked the chief minister over not giving appointments, the method of caste census and the economic plight of Telangana, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka was asked to make a presentation on the process at Indira Bhavan. Now, with several complaints of corruption in the state Congress and ministers, the party high command is considering a detailed inquiry during the padayatra and taking action accordingly. When the chief minister visited New Delhi recently, he was accompanied by five ministers. Natarajan’s padayatra was announced in party circles after Revanth Reddy left for Hyderabad while the ministers stayed back. The response from Natarajan and his transfer to the high command could be very significant for Revanth Reddy and also for those opposing him within the party.
Hyderabad: Meenakshi Natrajan’s padayatra has raised questions in Congress
