Former PCC chief D.Srinivas passes away, CM Revanth condoles death

NIZAMABAD: Veteran Congress leader D. Srinivas, who was PCC chief when the party won the state elections in 2004 and 2009, passed away in the early hours of Saturday due to heart attack in Hyderabad. He was 76 and ailing for the last few months.

He is survived by wife Vijayalaxmi and two sons — D. Sanjay, former mayor of Nizamabad, and Arvind Dharmapuri, BJP MP from Nizamabad.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who condoled the passing of Srinivas, directed Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari to make arrangements to conduct the last rites with state honours. The last rites will be conducted in his native Nizamabad town on Sunday.

Srinivas’ mortal remains were shifted to his residence in MLA Colony for the leaders and public to pay their last respects.

Born on September 27, 1948, in Mumbai, Srinivas rose from NSUI activist to become MLA, MP, minister and PCC chief twice.
Srinivas, a native of Velpur in Nizamabad district. completed his graduation from Nizam College in Hyderabad. Getting inspiration from his close relative, mentor and then finance minister Argul Rajaram, Srinivas was first elected MLA in 1989. He served different portfolios in the Cabinets of Chief Ministers Marri Chenna Reddy, Nedurumilli Janardhan Reddy, Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy and Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
Known as close confidant of AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Srinivas was made PCC chief twice in 2003 and 2008. During his leadership, the Congress came to power in the elections in 2004 and 2009. Srinivas was also aspired Chief Minister post in 2004, but the Congress high command preferred Dr Rajasekhar Reddy after his Praja Prasthanam walkathon. After the death of Rajasekhar Reddy, Srinivas aspired for the CM post and contested the 2010 byelections, but lost.
Many followers of Srinivas were elected MLAs, MLCs and MPs. Belonging to the strong Munnuru Kapu community, Srinivas played key role in united AP politics. Srinivas played an important role in finalisation of the alliance between BRS (then TRS) and Congress for the 2004 elections. After his defeat in the 2010 bypoll, the Congress elevated Srinivas as member of the Legislative Council.
After the formation of Telangana, Srinivas joined the BRS on an invitation by its supremo K. Chandrashekar Rao who elevated him to the Rajya Sabha.

Srinivas’s younger son Arvind Dharmapuri’s joining the BJP widened the differences between then BRS MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha and Srinivas.
Kavitha along with BRS MLAs had passed a resolution seeking the suspension of Srinivas from the party and submitted it to Chandrashekar Rao. The BRS did not suspend Srinivas but the gap between the party and the veteran leader continued.