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 New Delhi, Feb 8: The Congress high command has reportedly decided to replace the PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana as part of efforts to prepare the party for the 2014 electoral war.
Apart from being unhappy with his functioning, the party leadership wants to strictly implement the one-man-one-post norm wherever possible. Though Botsa has been expecting this development since long, he has been convincing himself that there would be no danger for him, as the AICC general secretary and state party in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad has also been holding two posts. But now the party leadership would apply this norm even at the central level ahead of the Parliament elections.
Consequent to this decision, high command started considering the names of party leaders who could head party through the elections. There are three in the fray. Former PCC Chief D Srinivas, former MP Mallu Ravi and minister Kanna Lakshmi Narayana are seriously trying for the post. At one time it was said that the name of Kanna was finalized. But Srinivas’s name suddenly figured. With this Mallu Ravi, who was close to the former Chief Minister Dr. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and is having good relationship with the present Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy also, started moving playing his cards for getting the coveted post. It is learnt that Rahul Gandhi who is presently engaged in restructuring the AICC, would take a decision on the PCC before or after completing the task on hand.
DS had earlier aspired for the Chief Minister post, when Kiran was facing problems. However as the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi stood firm on her commitment that she would not replace a Chief Minister before completion of his term, DS could not fulfill his dream. As DS is a non-controversial person and has not been in the habit of undermining the Chief Ministers, Kiran also reportedly told the high command that he had no objection to having him as the PCC chief.
Kanna’s name has been under consideration since long. He was to have become the PCC chief when PV Narasimha Rao was the AICC chief and Prime Minister. But he did not show interest then. Kanna belongs to the strong Kapu community of the coastal region. Now union minister Chiranjeevi and union minister Pallam Raju are seriously trying to make him the PCC chief.
It is learnt that Kiran Kumar Reddy has not expressed either support or opposition to the nomination of Kanna. But, the one thing that is standing against Kanna is his being a Seemandhra leader. Congress leadership is hesitating to replace one Seemandhra leader (Botsa) with another, when the Telangana sentiment is at its peak. It is in this context, the name of DS is being considered. DS is also a BC and a man who identified with the Telangana cause. He has also to his credit, leading the party to victory in the 2004 and 2009 elections. He is also a non-controversial person and would not have ego problems with the Chief Minister or any other leader. His appointment would also satisfy the Telangana protagonists.
The other name under consideration is that of Mallu Ravi, from the Mala community. Ravi is also a non-controversial person and is educated. He has good oratorical skills and is knowledgeable. He never entered into any controversy nor did he maintain groups in the party.
Congress high command is likely to choose one of the three shortly, say informed sources. Botsa is also reconciled to the fact that he would at least retain his cabinet post.
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