Intense lobbying for nominated posts

Karimnagar: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders who could not manage to get Cabinet berths are now resorting to hectic lobbying for nominated posts. TRS MLAs in Karimnagar district rivalled with each other for Cabinet posts. Some of the MLAs were unhappy with the Ministerial berths allocated to them.

Senior leaders, including women, were in race for the posts, but KCR completed Cabinet expansion without inducting women. The party second rung leaders have begun efforts for the nominated posts. With the stage is set for filling State, district and mandal-level nominated posts, TRS leaders and TJAC leaders have started eyeing for them.

KCR decided to fill corporation chairmen and other posts with the MLAs who were not inducted in the cabinet. After the first phase of cabinet expansion, the names of some MLAs came into prominence. It may be noted that Manakonduru MLA Rasamai Balakishna was appointed as chairman of ‘Telangana Samskrutika Sarathi’ which is equalent to a Cabinet Minister rank. Rumours were afloat that Husnabad MLA Voditela Satish Babu, Karimnagar MLA Gangula Kamalakar and Manthani MLA Putta Madhu were in race for nominated posts equal to the rank of Cabinet Minister.

TRS leaders who organised mass movements for the past 14 years, were pressuring the senior leader for nominated posts. Some of the senior TRS leaders in the districts concentrated on State-level nominated posts. Sources said that the party high command decided the candidates for some State-level posts.

The party sources say that KCR decided to nominate Pratima Educational Institutions chairman Boyinipalli Srinivasa Rao as chairman of Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. Mr Srinivasa Rao is a confidant of Chief Minister K Chandrashekara Rao. KCR held consultations on Cabinet composition at Srinivasa Rao’s residence at Narsangi in Hyderabad. It may be noted that Srinivasa Rao is brother of Karimnagar MP Boyinipalli Vinod Kumar.

GV Ramakrishna Rao, TRS State Secretary from Manakonduru Assembly consistency is leaving no stone unturned to win the confidence of the Chief Minister. There were reports that a state-level nominated post was confirmed to TRSV and Osmania University JAC leader Rakesh. He is from Peddapalli. Rakesh successfully organised Telangana movement in Osmania University and since then he became close to the CM. KCR also maintains close relationship with Rakesh’s family and it had added strength to the rumours.

Panyala Bhupati Reddy from Husnabad Assembly constituency is also in race for nominated posts. Bhupati Reddy is a senior leader in the party and he is close to KCR.

Former Minister G Rajesham Goud, TRS district president Eeda Shankar Reddy, M Jithender Rao, Kathari Chandrashekar Rao, Chikkala Rama Rao, Oruganti Anand, Orguganti Ramana Rao, Nalla Manohar Reddy, Sandelli Mahipal and others have set eye on the posts and were consulting Ministers and confidants of the Chief Minister.

There are 100 posts at the district-level including chairman of Zilla Granthalaya Samstha, RTA member, Wakf Board chairman, district planning committee member, chairman and executive committee members of Vemulawada, Kondagattu, Dharmapuri, Kaleswaram, Odela Mallikarjuna Swamy temples and other temples in the district.

The government should also nominate chairmen and members to Karimnagar, Jammikunta, Husnabad, Mustabad, Sircilla, Vemulawada, Korutla, Metpally, Medipalli, Kathalapur, Jagityal, Malyala, Gangadhara, Choppadandi, Dharmaram, Gollapalli, Peddapalli, Sultanabad, Manthani, Kataram, Manakonduru, Bejjanki, Koheda and Illantakunta Agriculture Market Committees (AMCs). Chairmen of some AMCs obtained a court order and were continuing in the posts. The government will fill the posts after resolving the legal hurdles.

Speculations were rife that Regulapti Papa Rao will be nominated as chairman of Sri Rajarajeswara Swamy Devasthanam at Vemulawada. The MLAs as well as the party high command is finding it difficult to accommodate all the aspirants in nominated posts.

By: Ch Gopalakrishna