Lobbying for Khammam DCC post intensifies

Khammam: The intense lobbying for the post of District Congress Committee (DCC) president of Khammam is creating a lot of tension among the leaders who are keeping their fingers crossed. It may be recalled that the post remained vacant after the death of Aitham Satyam.

The Congress is currently up against an aggressive TRS party through its ‘Bus Yatra’ and is playing a major role as opposition party in the district and in the State.
It is to be noted that the AICC president Rahul Gandhi, who earlier, made it clear that party tickets would not be given to persons serving in various party posts. Many leaders had given up hopes of getting the post after Gandhi’s statement.

The top contenders for the post of DCC president include Puvvalla Durga Prasad, Darisala Bhadraiah, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Kotta Sitharamulu, Sambani Chandrashekar and Potla Nageshwar Rao.

The DCC spokesperson and former chairman of District Libraries Department Puvvalla Durga Prasad is having an impeccable record and lot of supporters. Besides, he is backed up by the TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and is using his political clout to the hilt to bag the post. He has been in the party from the beginning and is a good orator who can hold the meetings and rallies most effectively and can take the party into public.

Darisala Bhadraiah, a senior Congress leader is also confident of getting the post with the blessing of their leader Renuka Chowdhary. He has a strong presence in the party and in the region.

Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, is also seeking the post with the support of his brother MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy. He is accessible, energetic and knows how to take on the ruling TRS party in the coming days and strengthen the Congress party.

Kotta Sitharamulu is also a serious contender and started making moves using his influence in that direction. Recently, during his visit to Khammam, the senior Congress leader and former MP V Hanumantha Rao urged the AICC to appoint a candidate from BC Community for DCC chief’s post and referred the name of Kotta Sitharamulu to the AICC Telangana in-charge Dr. Rama Chandra Kuntia.

Former Minister Sambani Chandrashekar has been in politics for over a decade and is working whole heartedly for the party right from the very beginning. But as per the information, he is not interested in taking up the responsibilities of DCC post.
According to sources, it is known that Potla Nageshwar Rao, who joined the Congress party from ruling TRS is expecting the Khammam Assembly ticket and is not interested in taking up the responsibilities of DCC post.

The AICC Telangana in-charge Dr Rama Chandra Kuntia held a meeting with former MP Renuka Chowdary and Deputy Leader of Congress in Telangana Legislature Council Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy in Hyderabad recently to discuss about the selection of a candidate for the DCC post.

It is to be noted that the AICC constituted a Task Force Committee earlier with four leaders, Melam Srinivas, Katla Ranga Rao and Vemireddy Srinivas Reddy as the members along with Aitham Satyam as Convener.

The Central Committee is facing a tough time to select the right person and unable to come to any conclusion to settle on one name since everybody is loyal to the party. There is a fear that it may lead to the rise of dissidence in the party and dissatisfaction among other congress leaders. As such, it is planning to continue and give more time to the Task Force Committee by taking a few more leaders into the committee as members, besides, appointing a new convener.

By Puli Sharath Kumar