Thungathurthi Congress Clash | Hyderabad, July 8 (Maxim News): Internal differences in the Congress party in Thungathurthi Assembly constituency of Suryapet district intensified on Wednesday after rival groups allegedly loyal to MLA Mandula Samuel, MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and former minister Ramreddy Damodar Reddy clashed on a public road in Arvapally.
The violence has raised fresh concerns over factionalism within the ruling party in Telangana.
According to local reports, supporters of the rival factions attacked each other with stones and sticks, forcing police to intervene. Officers dispersed the groups to bring the situation under control. However, police vehicles were also damaged during the violence.
Thungathurthi Congress Clash | Protest Over Party Appointments Triggers Violence
The clash reportedly erupted after a section of Congress workers announced a “Chalo Gandhi Bhavan” protest against the functioning of MLA Mandula Samuel. The protesters alleged that the MLA had ignored long-time party workers while distributing organisational posts.
As the protesters were leaving for Hyderabad, supporters of the MLA allegedly stopped them at Arvapally, leading to a confrontation that quickly turned violent.
Several senior Congress workers expressed dissatisfaction over recent appointments of mandal party presidents. They alleged that leaders who had worked for the party for years were overlooked, while those who recently joined the Congress from other parties received key positions.
The disgruntled leaders accused the MLA of making appointments unilaterally and ignoring the interests of the party’s traditional cadre.
Factionalism Emerging as Challenge for Telangana Congress
The dispute in Thungathurthi reflects a broader challenge facing the Telangana Congress after coming to power. Similar tensions between long-time Congress leaders and recently inducted leaders have surfaced in several constituencies across the state.
Although senior party leaders initially accommodated newcomers to strengthen the organisation, dissatisfaction has grown among the old cadre over what they describe as increasing dominance by leaders who joined from rival parties.
Many Congress workers believe they have been sidelined in appointments and political decisions despite their long association with the party. Consequently, several local units have witnessed growing unrest over organisational posts.
Political observers believe the Tungaturthi episode could become a warning sign for the Congress leadership if the differences remain unresolved. With Assembly elections less than two years away, continued factional infighting could weaken the party’s organisational strength and provide an opportunity for the opposition.
Party leaders are now expected to intervene and resolve the dispute to prevent similar conflicts from spreading to other districts.
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