Congress appoints Naveen Pettem as TPCC social media chief
Synopsis
The AICC has overhauled the TPCC's digital and media structure, elevating Naveen Pettem to social media chief and handing Bhongir MP Kiran Kumar Reddy the media and publicity portfolio — but the reshuffle hit an immediate snag when coordinator-designate Geetha Ainala publicly declined her role on X, reasons unstated.
Key Takeaways
Naveen Pettem appointed chairperson of the TPCC social media department on 7 August , elevated from his earlier coordinator role.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the full slate of appointments, announced by AICC General Secretary K.
Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy , MP from Bhongir , named state chairperson of the TPCC Media and Publicity Department .
Geetha Ainala publicly declined her appointment as coordinator via a post on X ; reasons were not disclosed.
BRS supporters criticised the Congress over Pettem's appointment.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has appointed Naveen Pettem as chairperson of the social media department of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), effective 7 August. The appointment was approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and announced by AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal.
Key Appointments in TPCC Social Media Wing
Pettem, who previously served as coordinator of the same department, also holds membership of the State Transport Authority. K. Ujwal Reddy and P. Vamshi Krishna have been named convenors of the department. Ambala Sive Kumar, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Veerapuram Ram Laxman, Geetha Ainala, MD Abid Ali, and Susheel Kumar have been designated as coordinators, while M. Bhargav Naidu, S. N. Dinesh, and Fareeduddin will serve as co-coordinators.
Kiran Kumar Reddy Named Media and Publicity Chief
In a separate appointment under the same order, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy has been named state chairperson of the Media and Publicity Department of the TPCC. Kiran Kumar Reddy is the Member of Parliament from Bhongir constituency. On X (formerly Twitter), he thanked Congress president Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Venugopal, and other AICC leaders for the responsibility. 'I pledge to work tirelessly with TPCC leadership to effectively articulate our governance, fulfil our promises, and strengthen the party's voice across Telangana,' he said.
Geetha Ainala Declines Coordinator Role
In an unexpected development, Geetha Ainala — the state convenor of TPCC Media and Communications — publicly declined her appointment as coordinator of the social media department. She posted on X thanking the party for the offer but stated she would not be accepting it, requesting Naveen Pettem to remove her name from the list. The reasons behind her refusal were not immediately known.
BRS Criticises Congress Over Pettem Appointment
Supporters of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have criticised the Congress party over Pettem's elevation to the chairperson's role in the TPCC social media department. The nature of the criticism was not elaborated upon in official statements. This comes amid an increasingly competitive political landscape in Telangana, where the Congress government has been keen to sharpen its digital outreach.
Point of View
But Geetha Ainala's public refusal on X is the detail that cuts through. A sitting state convenor of Media and Communications declining a coordinator post — and doing so openly on social media — signals internal friction that the party has not explained. In a state where Congress is still consolidating its 2023 electoral win, a visible crack in its own communications machinery is the last optic the leadership needs. BRS's swift criticism suggests the opposition is watching for exactly these moments.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Naveen Pettem and what is his new role?
Naveen Pettem is a member of the State Transport Authority who previously served as coordinator of the TPCC social media department. He has now been appointed chairperson of that department by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Who is Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy?
Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy is the Member of Parliament from Bhongir constituency in Telangana. He has been appointed state chairperson of the Media and Publicity Department of the TPCC.
Why did Geetha Ainala decline her TPCC appointment?
Geetha Ainala, the state convenor of TPCC Media and Communications, posted on X that she was not accepting her appointment as coordinator of the social media department and asked for her name to be removed. The reasons for her refusal were not immediately known.
What did BRS say about the Congress appointments?
Supporters of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) criticised the Congress party over Naveen Pettem's appointment as TPCC social media department chairperson, though the specific grounds for criticism were not detailed in official statements.
Who approved the TPCC social media department appointments?
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the appointments, which were announced by AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal. The appointments cover the chairperson, convenors, coordinators, and co-coordinators of the TPCC social media department.
