Sanathnagar Congress in crisis as rift between Kota Neelima and Anil Kumar Yadav camps widens

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

The Congress party in Sanath Nagar is grappling with a severe internal crisis, with tensions boiling between senior leader Kota Neelima’s faction and a rising group reportedly backed by Anil Kumar Yadav. The controversy surrounding appointments to the Ellamma Temple Trust Board has exposed deep factionalism, triggering police cases, High Court petitions, and accusations of indiscipline within the party.

According to party sources, the flashpoint emerged over the appointment of allegedly ineligible individuals to the temple board. These appointments, linked to Anil Kumar Yadav’s camp, have drawn strong criticism for bypassing legal norms and undermining religious traditions. The issue escalated when a social activist, Khammar, filed a police complaint against board member Akula Boolakshmi, a close aide of Yadav. A case was subsequently registered at the Sanathnagar Police Station, raising serious concerns within the party ranks.

Senior leaders aligned with Kota Neelima have condemned the appointments as politically motivated and spiritually disrespectful. They argue that a revered temple like Ellamma Talli, which holds deep cultural and religious importance, should not be used for short-term political gains. This sentiment has also been echoed by devotees and civil society groups who view the board’s politicisation as an insult to their beliefs.

Legal complications followed, with a High Court petition filed challenging the legality of the appointments. The petitioner claimed that the selection process violated constitutional principles and amounted to direct political interference in religious affairs. With the court agreeing to hear the case, the matter has now moved from party infighting into a broader legal and social arena.

Adding fuel to the fire are growing complaints of "rowdyism" within the party. Long-time Congress members allege that several new entrants, believed to be supported by Yadav, have adopted aggressive tactics—using foul language, issuing threats, and sidelining seniors. According to insiders, these new members have created an atmosphere of fear and disrespect, claiming the party as their own and referring to older leaders as “outdated.”

The situation has left the local party in-charge struggling under immense pressure. “Every day brings a new controversy—police cases, court petitions, internal fights. There’s no time for real political work,” a close aide revealed. Kota Neelima, sources say, has raised her concerns with senior Congress leadership, warning that continued inaction could lead to permanent damage.

Public sentiment in Sanathnagar is increasingly turning against the Congress. “If the party can't respect religious beliefs or its own senior leaders, how can it earn public trust?” a local resident asked. Political observers warn that if the leadership fails to intervene, Sanath Nagar could become a symbol of Congress’s larger decline in Telangana.