The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Nominated posts: rumblings in Congress over delay

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 02, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Nominated posts: rumblings in Congress over delay

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 1. The delay in filling nominated posts for corporations and committees by the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is causing heartburn among the Congress cadre.

The AICC and the PCC had promised to undertake the exercise soon after the elections to keep those denied party ticket in good humour.

Quite a large number of aspirants have been waiting eagerly for the announcement for the last six months.

In fact, more than 5,000 applications have been received for the nominated posts numbering about 14,000 ranging from corporation chiefs to municipal ward-level committees.

Apart from these "openings,'' the forthcoming municipal elections and the proposed revival of the Legislative Council have also fuelled the hopes of aspirants. While the Council predictably makes room for the seniors, real problem lies is in filling the corporation posts.

Hectic lobbying

No senior Congress leader is in a mood to relent. Most of them have already sent their recommendations to the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The Cabinet Ministers are insisting that their candidates be given the plum posts.

This employment generation process for party leaders has become an unenviable task for the Adviser to Government (Public Affairs), K. V. P. Ramachandra Rao.

Although the PCC has evolved a 10-point formula for the selection, political influence will finally matter in dispensing the coveted posts. Dr. Reddy tried to wriggle out of the situation by passing the buck to the yet-to-be-formed PCC-Government coordination committee recently. But, the AICC in charge of the State, Digvijay Singh, put the ball back in his court.

Question of timing

The Congress leadership is mulling over the timing -- whether to take it up before the municipal elections or not.

The delay in expanding the Cabinet also is puzzling as several key portfolios like Power and Medical and Health are headless severely affecting the quality output of the departments.

The cumulative effect of the delays is becoming evident in the murmur of dissent making the rounds.

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