PCC chiefs' fate by June-end

Hyderabad: Whether the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) presidents of the Telugu states will continue till the elections or be replaced will be known by the end of the month. Mr Rahul Gandhi after becoming AICC president has changed PCC presidents in many states.

According to AICC sources, Mr Gandhi has decided to complete the exercise of changing PCC presidents by the end of this month and start work on the elections from July 1.

The AICC feels that social justice was not done in the Congress postings in Telangana state. TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy and CLP leader K. Jana Reddy both belong to the same caste and old composite district. Replacing either of them has become a problem.

Senior Telangana state Congress leaders recently met AICC leaders and briefed them about the political situation and organisational issues. The AICC asked Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy to send a list of candidates to appoint TPCC executive committees and for other posts like the campaign and election committees. Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy submitted a list which the AICC has kept pending.

According to Congress circles, Telangana CLP deputy leader P. Sudhakar Reddy and MLA Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and others are in the race for the TPCC president.

Several Congress leaders have complained about TPCC issues to AICC leaders. Sources said that the high command was thinking of either replacing both the TPCC president and the CLP leader or one of them. If Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy continues as TPCC president or is replaced by another leader of the same caste, CLP leader Jana Reddy will be replaced by senior MLA and former minister J. Geetha Reddy, sources said.

Some Congress leaders have been telling the high command to bring back former PCC president and current TRS MP D. Srinivas, who belongs to the BC community, and appoint him as TPCC president. The Congress won the 2004 and 2009 Assembly elections with Mr Srinivas as DCC president in undivided AP. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is said to have a soft corner for Mr Srinivas. But the latter’s close associates say that he is comfortable in the TRS and has no plans to rejoin the Congress.

In AP, few Congress leaders are in the race for PCC presidency as the party is in poor shape. APCC oresident N Raghuveera Reddy has informed the high command that if it wants to appoint a new president, he is ready to resign.

Several leaders, including Mr Raghuveera Reddy, have been pressurising MP K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao for a long time to head the AP Congress. He has refused on health grounds.

A senior leader who is interested in the post said, “Some leaders are ready to assume the APCC chief’s post but no one is trying to bring pressure on the high command. They are ready to accept if the high command appoints on its own.”