The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Hectic lobbying for city Congress chief post

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Hectic lobbying for city Congress chief post

Special Correspondent

The City Congress chief must be in a position to muster enough men and material for the programmes of the party in the city.

HYDERABAD: As the deadline draws closer for the nomination of Hyderabad City Congress chief's post, the tussle among the aspirants is getting hotter.

Intense lobbying is on for the coveted post and heavyweights in the party are deftly making their moves in favour of their candidates. While the Secunderabad MP and former president of the Hyderabad City Congress Committee, Anjan Kumar Yadav, is keen on securing another term, the defeated Asifnagar MLA of the party, D. Nagender, is equally keen on securing his own political rehabilitation.

The APCC secretary, C. T. Seshnarayan, is another aspirant in the race and the fourth dimension to this contest is added by the Khairatabad MLA, P. Janardhan Reddy, who wants to see one of his followers in the chair.

All the DCCs have authorised the party high command on April 19 to select the chiefs of the districts and the City Congress chief post was one of those thus hanging fire.

Keen on re-nomination

Though Mr. Yadav is keen on getting re-nominated, the `one man one post' condition may go against him. Similarly, the dice is loaded against Mr. Nagender who is desperately trying to secure the nomination with the blessings of the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, for several reasons.

The City Congress chief must be in a position to muster enough men and material for the programmes of the party in the city. It is doubtful whether a `loner' like Mr. Nagender, who has the distinct ability to distance others, including the party MLAs, from the city, fits the position at all. The hostility of the MIM legislators against him is well known and the Congress ally, the TRS, also does not see eye to eye with him, which is now forcing the YSR camp to rethink on its choice.

Though Mr. Seshnarayan enjoys the blessings of the PCC chief, K. Keshava Rao, and some veteran Congress leaders, a lot of convincing is needed about his ability to lead a team known for its intense group rivalries. His ability to take care of the `logistics' for party programmes is no match compared to the others.

Mr. P. Janardhan Reddy, on his part, is playing his cards close to the chest and has not indicated his choice yet. Whatever may be his move, he is sure to oppose Mr. Nagender -- to the benefit of the others.

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