It could well be described as a ticket to turmoil.  There is never a dull moment with the ‘Grand Old Party’. Former MP Anjan Kumar Yadav after being denied a ticket for the Jubilee Hills by-election threw a grenade into the Telangana Congress camp thundering.

“I'll soon reveal who blocked my ticket," in a fiery media interview. The leadership seems to have forgotten who toiled for the party in tough times," he blasted, questioning why the "local vs. non-local" debate suddenly surfaced now, but not when one contested in Kamareddy earlier. With 40 years in Congress, he warned: "If they trample us, we'll climb over them." The party chose newcomer Naveen Yadav. "Am I not eligible to contest? He asked.  

The Jubilee Hills bypoll, set for polling on November 11 and counting on November 14, has turned into a soap opera. Anjan, a two-time MP and PCC Working President, had been eyeing the seat, but High Command's pick of Naveen left him seething. He claimed his sentiments were hurt, especially since he wasn't even consulted on the candidate selection. "Workers whose feelings are bruised are flocking to me," he added, hinting at brewing unrest. Not to be outdone, another aspirant, Rahmat Nagar corporator CN Reddy, also sulked, prompting a separate damage-control visit to his home.

Meenakshi steps in for pacification talks

AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, flanked by ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Vivek Venkataswamy, rushed to Anjan's residence for urgent "bujjigimpu" (pacification) talks. The trio painted a picture of unity, with Natarajan assuring, "Anjan will get a suitable position soon—Congress values collective decisions." Ponnam echoed: "We consulted everyone; the party decided based on current realities. Anjan is a senior leader who's strengthened Hyderabad Congress." Vivek went further, declaring, "Greater Hyderabad needs Anjan's services to bolster the party." By evening, reports trickled in that the efforts bore fruit—Anjan reportedly agreed to campaign for Naveen, ensuring the party's flag flies high.

A similar charm offensive unfolded at CN Reddy's place, where the ministers urged collective effort for a massive win in his division. "No internal dissatisfaction here," Ponnam insisted, though the optics screamed otherwise.

A classic Congress rerun

But this isn't just Anjan's episode—it's a classic Congress rerun. Internal squabbles, public spats, and ego clashes have been the party's unwelcome trademark, especially in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and now Telangana. Remember the adage: In Congress, dissent is as common as chai breaks. Leaders denied tickets or posts often air grievances openly, accusing high-ups of favouritism, only for seniors to swoop in with promises and pats on the back. It's a ritual as old as the party itself, where ambition clashes with hierarchy, turning every election into a family feud.

Recent Telangana dramas

Just months ago, during Revanth Reddy's cabinet expansion, hopefuls like Sudarshan Reddy, Premsagar Rao, and Malreddy Ranga Reddy were left out, confining themselves to sulk mode. AICC in-charge and ministers played peacemakers, dishing out assurances that cooled tempers—for now. Then there's Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, a minister aspirant who, upon snubbing, publicly slammed the CM on policy issues, only to be reined in through backchannel talks.

Senior leader Jeevan Reddy took it up a notch, threatening to quit his MLC post when rival BRS MLA Dr. Sanjay jumped ship to Congress without his input. "They didn't even ask me!" he fumed, blasting the state leadership. Minister Sridhar Babu dashed to his side, averting a crisis with smooth troubleshooting.

These incidents underscore a pattern: Congress thrives on star power but struggles with star egos. In Telangana, where the party clawed back power after years in the wilderness, such rifts risk alienating voters amid opposition from BRS (fielding Maganti Suneetha) and BJP (yet to name a candidate). Yet, the pacification playbook works temporarily, keeping the flock together for the bigger fight: making Rahul Gandhi PM, as Anjan himself reiterated.

As Jubilee Hills heats up, will Anjan's truce hold, or is this the calm before another storm? In Congress, history suggests the drama never truly ends-it's just an intermission.