United they stood.... divided they fell

(Sakshipost Web Exclusive)

If there is one lesson for the Congress in the local bodies constituency MLC polls, it is that wherever they stood united, they won and where they remained disunited and fought among itself, the party lost. If Nalgonda result showed what united fight could achieve, Rangareddy results showed what disunity could do to the party.

Unity in Nalgonda
Ever since the MLC pol schedule was announced, all eyes were on Nalgonda and Rangareddy. Though the ruling TRS managed to consolidate itself in other districts, both Rangareddy and Nalgonda remained tough nuts to crack. In Nalgonda the Congress leaders managed to keep their flock together and Rajagopal Reddy group managed to keep all the Congress leaders in the district together.
In Nalgonda, four candidates were in the fray, one being a Congress rebel. But Rajagopal Reddy managed to keep his flock together and his efforts during the local body elections paid rich dividends. His wide contacts at the grassroots level also ensured a smooth sailing.
He also managed to keep leaders of various Congress factions in good humour. Stalwarts like PCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, Leader of Opposition K Jana Reddy and MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy are from Nalgonda and Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy managed to take them along in the run up to the election. Also, the fear of loss of face for PCC chief and Jana Reddy if the Congress gets defeated in their home turn also worked to Rajagopal Reddy's advantage.

Disunity in Rangareddy
the TRS won both the seats in Rangareddy district. While it was smooth sailng for TRS candidate Patnam Surender Reddy, the other TRS candidate Sambipur Raju could win only after the third priority votes were counted. Had Congress worked with a purpose and stood united, it could have easily won the second seat. It did have enough votes to win in the first priority count itself.
The leaders were utterly disunited. Former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, other leaders Sudhir Reddy, Kichannagari Lakshma Reddy, Chandrasekhar, Prasad Rao and Malreddy Rangareddy were lost in internal bickering.
The Congress High Command too played no mean part in the fiasco. It decided the candidature of Chandrasekhar without consulting the leaders from the district. In the initial count, Sabitha Indrareddy was the forerunner for candidature. But, Chandrasekhar became the preferred candidate due to the influence some leaders had with the Delhi leadership. Afraid that Chandrasekhar's victory could hit his chances, Congress leader Prasada Rao resorted to open sabotage. He has openly worked with the TRS group.

Despite TDP backing.....
Thus, though the TDP supported them, the Congress could not win the election. The TDP decided to cast their second priority votes to the Congress. But, the Congress leaders' absence from the field at the crucial time baffled them.

Danam's destructive ways
Another factor that worked against the Congress was Danam Nagender's overt interference in Rangareddy affairs. In the name of GHMC elections, he tried to interfere in the Rangareddy affairs. Key Rangareddy leaders rushed to Delhi to complain against Danam when they should actually work to keep their flock together. This helped the TRS to poach into the Congress votes.

Tailpiece
Rangareddy Congress leaders say that if Danam continues to interfere in the same manner, the Congress would bite dust even in the GHMC elections.