In a blow to the Congress in Telangana, Krishank Manne, a prominent leader from Secunderabad, resigned from all his posts in the party citing a ‘series of humiliations and setbacks’ by the state leadership. He also announced that he would be joining the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the presence of Working President K T Rama Rao.
Resigning his posts as Official Spokesperson of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) and General Secretary besides the post of Vice Chairman – SC Department, Krishank shot off a letter to Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
Krishnank emerged as a student leader from Osmania University during the Telangana agitation for separate statehood and later joined the Congress. In the recent Assembly elections held last December, he was denied the MLA ticket from Secunderabad Cantonment.
“In 2014, I was announced as an MLA candidate from Secunderabad Cantonment but within two days, the Congress replaced my name. Nevertheless, I continued to serve the party. The candidate disappeared after the elections and I took the responsibility to boost the cadre’s morale by standing up for people’s issues,” Krishank wrote in his letter.
“Apart from being jailed during the Telangana movement, I was jailed during the struggle for justice to Rohith Vemula… I have come up the hard way without any godfather in politics. TRS gave youngsters abundant chances, making them parliamentarians, legislators and chairmen of nominated posts, but the Telangana Congress leadership betrayed the Osmania University students,” he added.
Krishank also said that he had applied for a Lok Sabha ticket for Peddapalli but was allegedly asked by TPCC President Uttam Kumar as to how much money he would spend.
“I’m a Dalit who quit my job as Assistant Professor to give my full time to Congress, but the criteria here is money. The Peddapalli seat is announced to one Mr Chandrashekar who contested as a rebel Congress candidate in 2018 and joined days before the list was announced, which is shocking,” Krishank said.
“Those who had no love for Telangana or respect for the agitation are at the helm of affairs. There is no point in wasting our careers for selfish Telangana Congress leaders… People throw chairs and fists around each other in Gandhi Bhavan, youngsters are never allowed to share space on the dais of Congress meetings. Dalit constituencies are decided by feudal netas who wish to demand tickets,” Krishank added.
In conclusion, the leader said that he was quitting with a heavy heart as he had a dream to serve the people and did not wish to ‘perish in the selfish politics of the Telangana Congress’.
Krishank’s departure comes as a big blow to the Congress, especially in the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency, as he wields considerable influence in the Cantonment area, especially among the youth. He was one of the key figures in leading the protest against the construction of a new Secretariat at Bison Polo grounds.
There is also in-fighting in the Congress over the ticket presently, as both former MP from the constituency, Anjan Kumar Yadav, who has been elected from Secunderabad twice, and former Indian cricket captain Azharuddin are eyeing the seat.
Secunderabad is Azhar’s home ground and he has already conveyed his decision to the party leadership, who were mulling putting him up in Hyderabad against sitting MP Asaduddin Owaisi. However, Anjan Kumar Yadav is strictly opposed to Azharuddin’s wish and has even said that he would not give up the seat at any cost. #KhabarLive
