Metro India News | Hyderabad 

The Telangana Congress party, riding high after forming the government, is now grappling with a wave of internal discord that shows no signs of abating. From heated rivalries like Ponnam's clash with Minister Adluri Laxman to Konda Surekha's spat with Ponguleti, and Anjan Kumar Yadav's open rebellion over being denied the Jubilee Hills ticket, the party seems plagued by ego clashes and power struggles. The latest flashpoint? Senior leader and former minister T. Jeevan Reddy's explosive allegations against two key ministers, accusing them of inflicting "mental agony" and favoring defectors from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). This drama unfolded amid Diwali celebrations on October 20, highlighting deep-seated frustrations among veteran party loyalists.

Jeevan Reddy's Sensational Claims and the "Halal vs. Jhatka" Metaphor

In a dramatic confrontation at the Dharmapuri MLA camp office, Jeevan Reddy didn't hold back while addressing Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar directly. He lambasted the party leadership for sidelining long-time members—whom he called "pattadars" (landowners)—in favor of "kauludars" (tenants), a pointed jab at BRS turncoats. "You're treating us like halal—slowly torturing us to death. Just give us jhatka instead, a quick end," Reddy thundered, using the metaphor to describe the gradual erosion of loyalists' roles.

Reddy pinpointed Ministers Duddilla Sridhar Babu and Adluri Laxman as the architects of his mental harassment, claiming their decisions have left him in daily distress. He raged against the allocation of plum positions, including temple committees in Jagtial district, almost exclusively to BRS defectors. For instance, the Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple committee and Polasa Poulasteswara Swamy panel went to associates of former BRS

Choppandandi MLA and ex-minister Koppula Eshwar's advisors. Only one minor committee escaped this trend. "All posts and works go to those from BRS. What's our place in the party?" Reddy questioned, reiterating his commitment to Rahul Gandhi's ideals while decrying the favoritism.

Speaking to the media in Jagtial later that day, Reddy escalated his rhetoric, comparing his post-power sidelining to being "sacrificed like a goat." He vowed to focus on protecting grassroots workers rather than chasing positions, and indirectly targeted Jagtial MLA Dr. M. Sanjay Kumar—a BRS defector—noting that despite lacking formal Congress membership, Sanjay wields undue influence over party decisions.

Roots of the rift and broader party turmoil

The tensions trace back to Dr. Sanjay's switch from BRS to Congress, which ignited infighting in Jagtial. Reddy has long opposed welcoming defectors, arguing it dilutes party principles. Past interventions by leaders like Sridhar Babu and Adi Srinivas temporarily quelled the storm, but this Diwali outburst has reignited it. Minister Adluri assured Reddy that the issues would be escalated to the high command, but skepticism lingers. With elections looming, such public spats risk alienating voters and weakening the party's unity against opposition like BRS. As Reddy's words echo, the high command's response could either heal or deepen the fractures.