New TPCC chief likely

Hyderabad: The Congress high command seems to have shifted its focus on revamping the Telangana Pradesh Congress committee (TPCC). According to party sources in New Delhi, the high command is unhappy with the manner in which the party has been functioning after the bifurcation of the State. The party leadership feels that the TPCC under the leadership of Ponnala Lakshmaiah has failed to effectively counter the TRS government.

The TPCC president was on Monday summoned to Delhi. Lakshmaiah left for Delhi and is likely to meet the leaders of the party high command on Wednesday. Opposition Leaders in the Telangana State Assembly K Jana Reddy too already left for Delhi.

The AICC feels that the TPCC president has failed to ensure coordination between the party and the TS Congress Legislature Party. Many CLP leaders have been putting pressure on the party high command for past few days to change the TPCC president. In order to put an end to the bickering within the party and see that it takes on the TRS government and plays the role of an effective major opposition party in the State, the party high command has asked the AICC incharge of Telangana State and AP Congress party Digvijay Singh to talk to the state leaders and submit a report.

Among those who are in the forefront in the race to succeed Lakshmaiah are former Deputy Speaker Bhatti Vikramarka, who is said to be the nominee of Jana Reddy, former Information and Public Relations minister D K Aruna, who is considered to be a fire brand leader, former MP Ponnam Prabhakar, who is known for his oratorical skills, and Mohd Shabbir Ali.