The Congress high-command is said to have reacted seriously over recent civil contractors dharna at Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka chamber, demanding payment of pending bills and alleging of asking them 20 percent commission to clear those bills.
It is believed that strong sections of the Congress have targeted Bhatti Vikramarka by giving leaks about corruption in the finance department, though it was spread widely in all departments. It is suspected that sections close to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy are behind this to damage Vikramarka politically, fearing that there may be strong opportunities for him if the Chief Minister is changed.
“Looking at all this, the matter has been framed against the Dalit minister. The dharna was organized with contractors as per the plan,” alleged a Dalit leader. The high command was stunned when this incident was reported prominently in the major media outlets across the country.
AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal himself inquired into this and asked to submit a report. The Secretariat has a five-tier security system. So, the floor where the Deputy CM’s Chamber is located also has additional security. Many wonder that tThen how could 200 contractors go to his Chamber, which has such tight security?
That too at a time when there is a fight over bills! If contractors can hold a press conference and go to the Secretariat, what is the intelligence system doing? Doesn’t all this look suspicious?.. questions are raising among Congress circles.
Also many wondered why no cases have been registered against the contractors who organized the dharna, though the Secretariat is a restricted area and it is illegal to go inside it? It may be recalled that police are sending journalists and others who raise their voice against the government to jail for minor matters and making big sections, and have not responded to the issue that has tarnished the government’s reputation so much.
It is significant to note that Bhatti Vikramaraka is a key leader in the Congress party and he was CLP leader until the assembly elections. He played a key role in the party’s campaign, selection of candidates, formulation of guarantees, etc. Before the assembly elections, he organized a long padayatra and tried to give momentum to the Congress.
Later, during the assembly elections, he was also seen as the main contender for the post of Chief Minister. There was also an argument that he had the potential to become the Chief Minister in the wake of the Congress high command adopting a pro-Dalit agenda.
He also emerged as the main contender in the exercise to select the Chief Minister after the elections. Keeping in mind many political equations, the high command ultimately selected Revanth Reddy as the Chief Minister. So, his presence in the cabinet is said to be believed as a major threat to Revanth Reddy.