Hyderabad: Telangana Congress leaders have stepped in to manage tensions following the announcement of Naveen Yadav as the party candidate for the Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election, a move that left former MP Anjan Kumar Yadav visibly disappointed. Anjan Kumar, who had been eager to contest the by-election on a Congress ticket, had actively engaged with the constituency and conducted several local programmes, confident that his seniority and long-standing service of over 40 years in the party would secure him the nomination. The announcement of Naveen Yadav’s candidature prompted speculation that Anjan Kumar might contest independently, raising concerns about internal party discord.

Recognizing the potential impact of Anjan Kumar Yadav’s discontent on the party’s prospects, senior Congress leaders quickly moved to pacify him. AICC Telangana incharge Meenakshi Natarajan, AICC incharge Viswanathan, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, and Labour Minister Vivek Venkatswamy visited Anjan Kumar at his residence to discuss the situation and seek a resolution. While the outcome of these discussions has not yet been made public, the intervention indicates the party’s intent to maintain unity and prevent a split vote that could affect Naveen Yadav’s chances in the by-election.

Apart from Anjan Kumar Yadav, other potential contenders, including former Minister KLN Yadav’s daughter-in-law Kanjerla Vijayalaxmi, were also considered for the Jubilee Hills ticket. Reports suggest that the internal selection process and candidate allocation have stirred debate within the local Congress circles, with some community members expressing dissatisfaction over the choice. As the by-election approaches, the party faces the challenge of balancing internal dynamics, appeasing senior leaders, and ensuring that the selected candidate has broad support across the constituency.