This is the first time an AICC General Secretary has embarked on such an outreach effort in a state where the Congress is in power.
Published Aug 01, 2025 | 9:05 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 01, 2025 | 9:05 PM
TPCC President B Mahesh Kumar Goud and Meenakshi Natarajan during the first leg of the padayatra.
Synopsis: AICC in-charge for Telangana, Meenakshi Natarajan, has launched a padayatra across six constituencies ahead of local body elections, in a rare grassroots initiative by a central leader in a Congress-ruled state. The march, officially aimed at assessing public sentiment and responses to the state’s welfare schemes, is being closely watched within party circles, particularly by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s camp, as it is also seen as a quiet performance review of the state leadership on behalf of the Congress high command.
In Telangana Congress, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan stands apart, an austere figure in a Congress ecosystem often associated with pomp, power play and privilege.
Since her unassuming arrival in Hyderabad by train, stepping out at Kacheguda Railway Station on 28 February, party workers have been quietly intrigued by her simplicity and low-key demeanour.
What has caught the attention of Congress ranks more, however, is her quiet yet firm resolve to address internal challenges, even when that means stepping on the toes of powerful factions within the party.
As the official emissary of Rahul Gandhi, Natarajan commands respect from both veterans and recent entrants into the Congress fold.
Despite her influence, she does not appear to be wielding her authority for personal gain or factional dominance. Her leadership style appears restrained yet focused, rooted in party ideology rather than personality politics.
It is no surprise then that when she kicked off a padayatra on 31 July from Parigi in Rangareddy district, party leaders looked at the development with a growing sense of unease.
It is an unusual move for an AICC General Secretary in a Congress-ruled state. Many see it as a genuine attempt to bridge the growing gap between the party and the people.
Others, particularly from the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy camp, view it with cautious interest, wondering whether it signals a silent audit of the state leadership.
Political foot marches are not new to Indian politics. The late YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the first to use one as his principal weapon against the then-ruling Telugu Desam Party in undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2003, leveraging it to propel the Congress to power in 2004.
He proved that, if done right, it can be a force to reckon with. It’s a model that’s been emulated umpteen times since.
But Meenakshi Natarajan’s effort is strikingly different: she has nothing personal to gain. Any goodwill or traction generated through this exercise will benefit the party, not an individual.
The Revanth Reddy camp acknowledges the potential value of the padayatra in reviving the party’s grassroots connect, especially ahead of the local body elections.
Still, there is a hint of unease. Natarajan is seen by some as a silent “check” on the chief minister’s growing influence. However, her actions so far suggest no intent to challenge or undermine Revanth Reddy.
Instead, she appears focused on assessing how the Congress government’s welfare schemes are being received on the ground, and whether any communities or constituencies feel left out.
The first leg of Natarajan’s padayatra, during which she was accompanied by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President B Mahesh Kumar Goud, went off quite innocuously at Parigi. The usual assertions from both leaders on the party’s commitment to 42 percent reservations marked the occasion.
The two leaders planted saplings on the premises of the government girls’ residential school in Parigi as part of a shramdan exercise.
As per the party’s schedule, Natarajan is expected to walk about eight kilometres daily in each of six selected constituencies: Pargi, Andole, Armur, Khanapur, Choppadandi and Wardhannapet, until 4 August.
The remaining two days of her march will resume after the Congress’s national protest in Delhi on 5 and 6 August in support of the BC reservation cause.
During the yatra, Natarajan is staying overnight at constituency headquarters, interacting with party workers, local leaders and civil society members.
Her goal: to reconnect with rural voters, understand their expectations and hear their concerns firsthand.
With the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) trying to claw back lost ground and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aggressively expanding its presence in Telangana, the Congress is under pressure to solidify its position and prepare for the electoral battles ahead, particularly the local body elections.
Natarajan’s walk is therefore not just symbolic but a strategic intervention to repair cracks in the Congress’s base and reinforce the party’s image as a responsive force on the ground.
Her predecessors in the role – Deepa Das Munshi, Manikrao Thakre and Manickam Tagore – were often criticised for indulging in comfort and power politics during their stints in Hyderabad.
Accusations ranged from living in luxury to meddling in government decisions and promoting their own factions within the party. Most of their engagements were confined to Gandhi Bhavan, where they held grievance redressal meetings with an endless stream of intra-party complainants.
In contrast, Natarajan has demonstrated a more grounded and field-oriented style. Even when she intervenes in government affairs, it appears to be in good faith rather than for personal aggrandisement.
One notable example was her recent visit to the state secretariat, where she reviewed the status of the Kanchanbagh–Gachibowli land clearance issue with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and senior officials. She also consulted civil society representatives to understand public sentiment around the clearance of forested land earmarked for development.
Her objective, sources said, was not merely to determine what is administratively correct, but what is politically prudent, recognising that the party’s credibility is at stake.
Officially, the padayatra is part of a Congress campaign to charge its grassroots machinery and assert its commitment to inclusive governance.
TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud said the march serves as a platform to showcase the government’s welfare initiatives and reconnect with rural voters amid rising concerns about implementation delays and dissatisfaction among certain segments.
Yet insiders and analysts agree that the yatra carries a second, less overt agenda: a feedback mechanism for the Congress high command, particularly Rahul Gandhi.
As one of Gandhi’s trusted aides, Natarajan’s assessment of Revanth Reddy’s leadership may influence future decisions of the party. Given the recent turbulence within the Telangana Congress, from internal rifts to the phone-tapping controversy, her mission doubles as a subtle, non-confrontational performance review.
In that sense, Natarajan’s padayatra is unprecedented. This is the first time an AICC General Secretary has embarked on such an outreach effort in a state where the Congress is in power.
Previous marches, such as YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s iconic campaign in undivided Andhra Pradesh or Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, were launched from the opposition benches, not from within a ruling establishment.
Revanth Reddy himself led a padayatra in 2022 as TPCC president, galvanising support against the BRS. But at the time, Congress was out of power and the stakes were different.
Nevertheless, it’s clear Natarajan’s initiative is not just about optics, but whether it becomes a turning point for the party’s grassroots revival or a temporary spark remains to be seen.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
