Telangana elections: Congress eyes resurgence to challenge KCR in citadel
Hindustan TimesFor nearly three years between 2015 and 2018, the Congress party had no significant or large public rally in Telangana. In 2014, K Chandrashekar Rao became the chief minister of India’s newest state and “our leaders almost went into silent mode as they feared backlash if they tried to question KCR in those emotive times,” Congress worker Ramavath Ramalu said at Gandhi Bhavan, the state headquarters of the party. Congress leaders said that Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra has given a boost to the party organisation Five years later, the Congress has re-emerged as a threat to Rao’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi. “The two other similar examples can be seen in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, where hundreds of Congress leaders and workers have joined the new offshoots,” said political analyst Sudhakar Gaud. Revanth Reddy’s appointment was also a key factor behind the turnaround of the Congress, said Ghanta Chakrapani, director of BR Ambedkar University and former Telangana public service commission head.