The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Focus shifts to new PCC chief, Speaker

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Focus shifts to new PCC chief, Speaker

Special Correspondent

Botcha Satyanarayana

HYDERABAD: With 39-members in Kiran Kumar Reddy's government in place, the focus has now shifted to the appointment of new AP Congress Committee president and the election of a Speaker.

As the Chief Minister represents Rayalaseema region and the Deputy Chief Minister is from Telangana, the demand to appoint a leader from Andhra region is gaining momentum. There is also talk of making a BC leader the APCC chief.

Though Botcha Satyanarayana lobbied hard with AICC leaders, his retention in the Cabinet may go against his aspiration. Nevertheless, he is said to be keen on taking up the post on the grounds that his Ministerial duties would not hinder his functioning as State party chief. Sources said a group of party MPs, MLAs and MLCs had represented to the high command to consider leaders from Andhra for the said post. In case the central leadership prefers to entrust the job to a person from Telangana, former Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy's name may be considered seriously, as he enjoys the Chief Minister's backing. Another former Minister, Md. Ali Shabbir is also using his proximity to Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to lobby for the post. The latter is tipped to take over as AICC in-charge of AP.

As regards the election of Speaker, if the party chooses an Andhra leader, Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar is said to be high on their priority. Moreover, he belongs to the dominant Kamma community, which has only one representative (Galla Aruna) in the Cabinet. In case the responsibility is likely to be entrusted to an MLA from Telangana, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy stands a fair chance.

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