Party leaders now hope that Meenakshi Natarajan, who appears focused on restoring values and discipline, might bring some semblance of order.
Published Mar 12, 2025 | 12:06 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 12, 2025 | 12:06 PM
Meenakshi Nataraj with TPCC Mahesh Kumar. (X)
Synopsis: Even though the Congress high command has been sending general secretaries from Delhi as in-charges for Telangana one after another in quick succession, the fissures in the state unit remain unchanged. Now, Meenakshi Natarajan, an influential yet down-to-earth general secretary of the AICC and an important member of Rahul Gandhi’s team, has been sent to set the house in order.
The Congress, by its very inherent nature, always tends to become disorderly. In fact, the party unwittingly follows the principle of entropy, a thermodynamics rule that states anything in a disorderly state is more stable.
However, if a party remains disorderly for too long, it may not survive, as predators are always ready to devour it. This has been proven several times. The content of democracy, which authoritarians often label as a weak form of governance, is quite high in the party.
Even though the party has been sending general secretaries from Delhi as in-charges for Telangana one after another in quick succession, the situation remains unchanged. This has been happening since the tenure of Manickam Tagore, who had to leave after facing charges, making way for Manikrao Thakare, who again had to leave for Deepa Dasmunsi, all under two years.
This is exactly why the party has now brought in Meenakshi Natarajan, an influential yet down-to-earth general secretary of the AICC and an important member of Rahul Gandhi’s team, to set the house in order.
Though fissures often appear in the party, indicating internal pressure and unrest, the situation has not yet reached a tipping point. Meenakshi Natarajan is expected to bring down the party’s volatility index so it can function as a well-oiled machine, laying a strong foundation for the Congress in Telangana. However, achieving this remains a tall order.
The party’s internal democracy does not inhibit infighting; on the contrary, it encourages it. When Revanth Reddy was inducted in 2017 and later elevated as state president in 2021, everyone remembers how the “original” leaders of the party reacted to the “aliens,” referring to Revanth Reddy and his supporters.
The most recent example of rising entropy within the Congress is an MLC who has become the party’s gadfly. A BC (backwards class) leader with roots in television journalism, Teenmar Mallanna, has now become an irrepressible disruptive force within the party.
He targets the Reddys, who dominate the Congress, believing they have been a nemesis for the BCs. He even used the most offensive language against the Reddys and set fire to the caste census released by the state government under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He has been under suspension ever since, but he continues to damage the party in multiple ways.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a few ministers gathering at a farmhouse on the outskirts of Hyderabad, sparking alarm within the party about a possible revolt against Revanth Reddy. However, it turned out that the meeting was not against the chief minister but was instead directed at a minister, who was allegedly demanding a cut for clearing contractors’ bills.
This occurred even as the incumbent Telangana in-charge, Deepa Dasmunsi, was on her way out, with another leader expected to replace her. After Meenakshi Natarajan took over, an embarrassing situation awaited her.
Around 200 small-time contractors gathered at the chambers of Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka at the state Secretariat, demanding clearance of their bills that had been pending for the last three years.
Although most of the bills were submitted when the BRS was in power, it is still the responsibility of the incumbent government to clear them. Some contractors alleged that they were being asked to pay 20 percent of the bill amount as commission for clearance.
Immediately after taking charge, Meenakshi Natarajan issued a stern warning to party workers against fawning over her. She expressed her strong opposition to sycophancy, which is an inseparable part of Congress culture.
She made an impact by arriving in Hyderabad by train from Delhi and instructing party workers not to carry her luggage. She stated that she would book her own cab or auto and preferred to travel independently.
In her first meeting, she emphasised prioritising those who had remained loyal to the party, giving second preference to those who joined before the Assembly elections, and least importance to those who joined after the party’s victory. Her statements, which carried a strong conviction, reassured senior leaders and long-time party loyalists that their chances of securing positions had improved.
The new in-charge has already made her mark in the selection of candidates for the MLC elections under the MLA quota.
The surprise selection of film actor and former MP Vijayashanti is believed to be her decision, as she apparently wanted her to act as a counterbalance to BRS leader K Kavitha, who has been actively raising issues like BC reservations that resonate with targeted communities.
After her candidature was announced, Vijayashanti expressed confidence in taking on the BRS in the state. It remains to be seen whether this gamble will pay off.
Meenakshi’s next challenge will be steering the party to victory in the upcoming local body elections. She will need to act as a bridge between the party and the government without giving the impression that she is trying to impose her authority.
Her predecessor, Deepa Dasmunsi, was relieved of her Telangana responsibilities and asked to focus solely on Kerala after complaints against her began piling up in Delhi.
Most of the complaints were related to her “overbearing” behavior, not just within the party but also in the government. She was accused of overstepping her role by interfering in party and government affairs, creating issues for ministers.
She was said to have meddled in bureaucratic appointments and was residing in Hyderabad after taking a house on rent. Since the Congress is in power in Telangana, she was reportedly more inclined to stay in Hyderabad than in Kerala.
Deepa Das Munshi’s predecessor, Manikrao Thakare, took charge in December 2022 when the party was preparing for the Assembly elections the following year.
Thakare was appointed to mediate between the party’s old guard and the newer members. However, he was removed from Telangana barely 20 days after the Congress came to power, which surprised many.
Though there were no official complaints against him, the explanation given was that his job in Telangana was complete and he had other assignments.
He received his orders while in the middle of a meeting at Gandhi Bhavan, discussing mobilisation efforts for the party’s 139th foundation day event in Nagpur on 28 December.
Thakare took charge after the old guard raised objections against Revanth Reddy, whom they did not see eye to eye.
The senior leaders, who gathered at the residence of then CLP (Congress Legislature Party) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, raised a slogan “save Telangana Congress,” intending to diminish Revanth Reddy’s influence.
At a press conference, they voiced concerns about the party’s image being tarnished, implicitly referring to Revanth Reddy. They initially demanded his removal but realising the high command would not agree, shifted their focus to replacing Manickam Tagore, the party in-charge appointed in January 2020, accusing him of favoring Revanth Reddy.
Eventually, they succeeded in securing the appointment of Manikrao Thakare in his place.
Party leaders now hope that Meenakshi Natarajan, who appears focused on restoring values and discipline, might bring some semblance of order.
A senior leader commented, “We hope the party will work as a cohesive unit. She seems very serious about bridging the gap between the party and the government, which is crucial for the Congress to consolidate the gains it had made in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Telangana. This is all the more important as the BRS and BJP are waiting to exploit any sign of weakness in the party.”
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
