Major Setback for APUWJ as Journalists Revolt in Uravakonda

Uravakonda :The Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) has suffered a major blow with an open revolt by journalists in its Uravakonda branch. The widespread dissent has escalated into a split, leading to the formation of a separate journalists' union in the town.

Sources indicate that the primary trigger for this crisis is the alleged unilateral decision-making style of the APUWJ Anantapur District President, Payyavula Praveen. Since assuming office, Praveen has faced accusations of taking arbitrary decisions.

District President's Dictatorial Tendencies Under Scrutiny

Praveen's alleged dictatorial tendencies are reportedly fueled by his close relationship with a powerful minister from the district. This perceived political backing emboldened him to unilaterally establish the Uravakonda branch of the APUWJ. Critics claim he handpicked a select group of six to seven journalists for the branch committee, declaring its formation after a purported meeting, ignoring the majority of local journalists.

At the time, numerous journalists openly expressed dissatisfaction, but their concerns were reportedly overlooked by both the district and state leadership of the APUWJ, allowing the local leadership's wayward behavior to persist.

Majority Journalists Form Separate Union

Mirroring the district leadership's alleged "As the King, so are the subjects" approach, the local APUWJ leaders are accused of similar high-handedness. This led to an eruption of dissatisfaction among the majority of journalists in the Uravakonda constituency.

On October 12 and 13, the dissenting journalists held phased meetings, announcing their decision to form an independent union to collectively address their issues and initiate their own movements. Notably, the local reporter for the same channel represented by District President Payyavula Praveen has also defected to the new union.

An "Eenadu" Reporter's Key Role

The formation of the new union is believed to have been significantly influenced by a local reporter from the "Eenadu" daily. While "Eenadu" reporters are typically mandated to remain unaffiliated with journalists' unions, the political environment in Uravakonda has seen this reporter allegedly align with a faction of political leaders.

It is reported that this reporter, who is accused of actively appointing journalists from his own community, planned for months to ensure the journalists' union would function under his control. These efforts reportedly bore fruit, with claims of financial support secured by him for the new group. This development is seen as a major setback for the APUWJ and a moment of "free air" for local journalists.

Core Reasons for Dissatisfaction

Journalists state that the existing APUWJ leadership in Uravakonda had completely neglected the welfare and issues of its members. Adding to the discontent, there have been recent, strong allegations that union members, under the guise of the union, colluded with liquor vendors to engage in illegal collections and misappropriated the funds for personal gain.

Many are pointing to the unilateral and dictatorial attitudes of certain reporters—particularly those representing newspapers affiliated with both the ruling and opposition parties—who allegedly received large sums from the liquor syndicate, as the major reasons that necessitated the formation of a stronger, independent union.