Congress Leadership Races to Retain Jeevan Reddy Amid Resignation Row in Telangana

Hyderabad, March 2026 : Efforts are underway within the Indian National Congress to prevent senior leader T. Jeevan Reddy from quitting the party, as internal tensions in Telangana continue to surface.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud met Jeevan Reddy in Jagtial on Tuesday, urging him to reconsider his decision to resign. Addressing the media, Goud emphasised that Jeevan Reddy’s decades-long political experience and contribution to the party make him an invaluable asset, adding that both the TPCC and the All India Congress Committee (AICC) are keen to retain him.

Goud acknowledged that the senior leader had been hurt by certain recent developments within the party and appealed to him to withdraw his resignation in the larger interest of the organisation. The meeting is part of a series of attempts by the ruling party leadership to pacify Reddy and resolve internal differences.

Earlier, state minister D. Sridhar Babu had also met Jeevan Reddy in a similar effort to persuade him to stay. Despite these outreach attempts, the situation remains delicate, with Reddy yet to make his final decision.

Jeevan Reddy announced his intention to resign from the Congress on Sunday, potentially ending a political association spanning nearly four decades. He cited “growing interference” by recently defected legislators in party affairs as the primary reason for his dissatisfaction. He also warned that such developments could harm the party’s image at the national level.

Highlighting his concerns, Reddy stated that respect in politics is paramount and that continuing without it holds no meaning. He specifically accused Jagtial MLA M. Sanjay Kumar of sidelining long-time Congress workers in the district. According to him, loyal party cadre who worked tirelessly to bring the Congress to power were being ignored.

In an open letter addressed to party workers, Jeevan Reddy expressed anguish over what he described as insults and mental distress within the party. He invited party members to a meeting scheduled in Jagtial on March 25 to discuss the future course of action, signalling that his next move may depend on feedback from grassroots supporters.

The friction between Jeevan Reddy and Sanjay Kumar has been ongoing, especially after the latter joined the Congress along with other MLAs from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi in 2024. Reddy, who lost to Sanjay Kumar in the 2023 Assembly elections from Jagtial, has been openly critical of the party’s decision to induct defectors.

Tensions further escalated over the allocation of tickets for municipal elections, with Reddy expressing strong displeasure over what he perceived as preferential treatment to the rival faction.

With internal discord now out in the open, the Congress leadership faces a significant challenge in maintaining unity within its ranks in Telangana, as it seeks to balance the interests of long-time loyalists and newly inducted leaders.