SRIKAKULAM: Palavalasa Rajasekharam (60), a senior leader of Congress and former ZP chairman and Rajya Sabha member, is the new chairman of Srikakulam zilla parishad. He was unanimously elected at a special meeting of the ZP here on Monday. Of the 38 Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies, Congress had bagged 30 and his election to the post was a matter of selection by the party. The election was conducted by district Collector,V.N.Vishnu. Mr.Rajasekharam, a science graduate, was elected from Veeraghattam ZPTC. He was ZP chairman during 1974-`76.

Development-oriented

Addressing ZPTCs and MLAs after taking oath, Mr.Rajasekharam said that he would strive for an all-round development of the district. thanked all concerned for electing him as chairman, and said that his efforts would be, cutting across political affiliations, to ensure development of the district. Minister for Revenue and Relief, Dharmana Prasada Rao, who was present, said that the opposition, unable to digest its dismal performance at the hustings, was casting aspersions on the wisdom of voters, who had overwhelmingly favoured Congress, not only in the local body elections, but also in the Assembly as well as municipal elections. MLAs who included Dharmana Krishna Dass and Boddealli Sathyavathi and ZPTC members assured to extend their full cooperation to the new chairman. Duvvada Srinavas, ZPTC member from Tekkali was elected as the vice-chairman. Gopinadh Sahu and Ch.Venkataramana (CPI) were chosen as co-optive members.

MPP president post

Earlier, party observers Chittaranjan Das and S.Gopal who had announced the name of Palavalasa Rajasekhara asserted that it was unanimous choice of ZPTC members which was endorsed by the Pradesh Congress Committee.

An interesting development was, while announcing the name of Duvvada Srinivas for the post of vice chairman, Mr.Das said that Mr.Srinmivas should ensure Tekkali MPTC, Chinthada Manju, will get elected as mandal parishad president.

This was a pre-election understanding. Failure to do so would attract disciplinary action by the party, Mr.Gopal warned. There was a hunch that Mr.Srinivas might not accept the candidature of Ms.Manju.

Speaking to newsmen later, Mr.Haribabu Naidu said that he would accept the decision of Chief Minister Rajasekhara Reddy and PCC president K.Kesava Rao.

He was not unhappy at the selection of Rajasekhar. He recalled how he had filed his nomination for membership of ZPTC only after an assurance from both that he would be chosen as the chairman . But he felt that for reasons not known to him the party had finally chosen, Mr.Rajasekharam.

He said he had made some promises to the evacuees of Heeramandalma reservoir from where he was elected. He would resign to the post of ZPTC as soon as their problems were solved.

Under no circumstances he would continue as ZPTC member after elections to the panchayats, a visibly upset Haribabu Naidu announced.

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