Congress Party works on the High Command Model. Even in states where the Regional Leaders are strong, the party often tries to downsize those leaders so that their clout is not impacted.
YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the last tallest leader Congress had in both the Telugu States.
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He was instrumental in bringing Congress to power with a Padayatra.
While YSR was given a free hand mostly, the Congress High Command always tried to keep his size in check by filling PCC Presidents with popular leaders.
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D Srinivas and Botsa Satyanarayana as PCC Presidents used to be Power Centers in Congress.
After the YSR era, Jagan tried to replace his father but Congress did not allow that and we know what happened later.
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The party would not even allow new populist schemes and radical decisions like HYDRAA which give new individual images to the Chief Ministers. That is the reason why Jagan was not allowed the Odarpu Yatra back then.
Leaders like Rosaiah, Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Ponnala Lakshmaiah held important posts but were far from being influential figures.
Revanth Reddy was the first such influential leader for Congress in AP and Telangana after YSR.
Several Senior leaders in the party hoped to become the Chief Minister but Congress picked Revanth. They expected at least the High Command would cut his size but even that is also not happening.
Given the way Revanth Reddy was given a free hand in HYDRAA Demolitions is an indication of that. Revanth Reddy even demolished the buildings belonging to some Congress leaders and their relatives who are close to the Party High Command.
And then, the PCC President appointment is another indication.
B Mahesh Kumar Goud is named as the PCC President. Several Seniors hoped to get it but the High Command decided to have someone who has the support of Revanth Reddy.
This means the party’s high command is not interested in creating new power centers and wants to give a free hand to Revanth Reddy.
It is something that did not even happen with YSR in Congress. That brings us to the question – Is Revanth Reddy more powerful than YSR in Congress?