Khammam district is fast turning out to be the TRS party’s Achilles’ Heel. The district has a number of strong leaders, but the party is unable to prove its strength. In both 2014 and 2019, the party could win only one seat each in the elections. It is another matter that the party engineered defections to increase its numbers.
But, problems continue to grow and the differences continue to simmer in Khammam district. The party is divided between four groups-of Tummala Nageswara Rao, Jalagam group, Ponguleti group and Ajay Puvvada group.The four groups are fighting among themselves further weakening the party. There are reports that both Tumala and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy are in touch with the BJP and might jump the fence any time.
To set things right and to placate Ponguleti, TRS working president KTR was supposed to visit Khammam and have a luncheon with key dissident leaders. But, the tour had to be cancelled at the last moment. Now that there are tensions over the suicide of a BJP worker due to alleged harassment by the TRS leaders and KCR might not visit Khammam anytime soon. If KTR visits Khammam, he may have to face embarrassing moments from the BJP.
All this has left the party cadre in the district thoroughly confused. They are in a quandary with the top leaders fighting among themselves. Meanwhile, there are reports that Ponguleti is preparing to contest elections even if the TRS goes not give him the party ticket. In 2019, he had to make way for Nama Nageswara Rao and feels that he has not been adequately compensated for the sacrifice he made. Sources say KTR should act fast to mollify him lest he leave the party.