‘Injustice to backward classes’: Ponnala Lakshmaiah — Congress veteran and former Telangana unit’s chief — quits party | Hyderabad News

In his resignation letter to AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Lakshmaiah said he has been deeply concerned over the functioning of the Congress unit in Telangana in the last few years and decided to sever the relationship of 45 years with the party as he cannot bear any more insult.

The 79-year-old backward class leader, who holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University, was elected four times to the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly from the Janagaon constituency and has served as a minister of Major Irrigation, IT and Communications in the previous Congress governments.

Lakshmaiah said there has been a shift in the party’s core ideology and added, “Individualism seems to have taken precedence over our collective strength. Leaders like myself, who have deep roots in the party’s soil, have faced indignities and newcomers are being unfairly elevated to power. The true-blue Congressmen and women seem to have become estranged within the party and are at risk of losing their existence.”

While stating so, he pointed to the functioning of the party, particularly in the last two years, to add that he had sought the attention of the TPCC president over the last two years to discuss various party developments and such attempts have been met with a lack of acknowledgement and respect.

“The principles of social justice, which were once the bedrock of the Congress, are seemingly outdated now, with BCs, comprising more than 50 per cent of our society, being treated with disrespect and disregard,” he added.

He also flayed the party’s candidate selection process which, he felt, ideally should be driven by the principles of fairness and representation. “Allegations of irregularities further erode our party’s integrity. Unfortunately, senior leaders like me have had to wait for months to discuss party concerns, and I have personally experienced the frustration of waiting for ten days in Delhi to meet AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal,” he stated.

Further, he added, “When a group of 50 BC leaders from Telangana went to Delhi to request prioritisation for BCs, they were denied even a meeting with AICC leaders. This is an embarrassment for the Telangana state which prides itself on self-respect. If BC leaders are made to feel insignificant and secondary, it jeopardizes not only their self-esteem but also the party’s reputation.”

Lakshmaiah also drew comparisons between Congress and the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi and said, “The ruling party recognized even small BC labourers and grants them MP, MLC, and corporation positions, while our own PCC president, the campaign committee chairman, former MPs, and working presidents are unable to secure an audience with the top leadership to discuss the concerns of Telangana’s Congress BC leaders.”

Adding that the Congress has penned impressive theories such as the Udaipur Declaration and Raipur Declaration, promising to respect seniors and give preference to those who have worked diligently for the party, he lamented that tickets today are distributed without any regard for party membership or contributions.

“Unfortunately, we rely on external consultants, often disregarding dedicated workers’ voices. It is with a heavy heart that I announce my decision to discontinue my association with the party. I have reached a point where I feel that I can no longer thrive in such an unjust environment. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have supported me in my various party roles over the years,” he concluded.