http://www.thehansindia.info/News/Article.asp?category=1&subCategory=2&ContentId=33561Kapus set to emerge a strong force
The most obvious choices for Congress to choose from the erstwhile PRP
for induction into the state cabinet, C Ramachandraiah and Ghanta
Srinivasa Rao present a contrasting picture. While the former's
induction could cause serious heartburn among senior Congress leaders
in YSR Kadapa district, the latter has no contender from Visakhapatnam
district. By inducting both Kapu leaders, the Congress high command is
unwittingly paving for re-alignment of the Kapu community, much to the
discomfiture of Kiran Kumar Reddy. Already Botcha is seen to be eyeing
the top post.
Ghanta has his task cutout
He has to unite Cong cadres, take on YSR Cong
Visakhapatnam: The local Congress leaders have a reason to cheer with
the induction of Ghanta Srinivasa Rao into the ministry. He will be
the first minister in three decades to get included in the ministry.
Alwar Das was the minister in Anjaiah Cabinet from 1978 to 1983 before
the power was handed over to the Telugu Desam on a platter in 1983.
Torn between the YSR Congress leaders led by Anakapallee Lok Sabha
member Sabbam Hari and weak ministers from the agency – P Balaraju and
Y Kishore Chandra Deo – the Congress workers and second rung leaders
had none to lean on for political growth.
"We were absolutely directionless after the demise of YS Rajasekhara
Reddy and Konathala Ramakrishna lost the elections to Ghanta Srinivasa
Rao," said U Appa Rao, a senior party worker.
Ghanta Srinivasa Rao will have an immense task on his hand after
swearing in as minister. He has to unite the party workers and ward
level leaders who have been swinging from the Congress to YSR
Congress.
Party sources said it was the intention of Chief Minister Kiran Kumar
Reddy to have Ghanta Srinivasa Rao in the cabinet to neutralise Botcha
Satyanarayana who has become a thorn in his flesh. General secretary
of the City Congress Committee K Charan Kumar said Ghanta would be a
great asset to the party as he will strengthen Congress in the city
and rural areas.
A senior TDP leader says Ghanta could successfully overshadow another
leader and former minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu, who was instrumental in
initiating his political career.
Profile
Ghanta Srinivasa Rao, born on December 1, 1960 in Prakasam district,
he belongs to general category. He studied B Com., B.L. and joined
politics. He was elected twice as an MLA and once as an MP from
various constituencies in Visakhapatnam. He contested from Anakapalle
Parliamentary constituency in 1999 on TDP ticket and won the seat.
Later he contested from Chodavaram Assembly constituency in 2004
elections. He contested from Anakapalle Assembly segment on PRP ticket
in 2009 elections and defeated Konatala Ramakrishna of the Congress.
Cong leaders sore over CR
Party high command sets aside seniority & loyalty
Kadapa: The Cabinet expansion has become a sticky issue for the
Congress high-command. A majority of Congress leaders from the
district are strongly opposing ministership for C Ramachandraiah. As
recent as last week, senior leaders in the party like Health Minister
DL Ravindra Reddy, Minorities Welfare Minister Ahmadullah, Kamalapuram
MLA G Veerasiva Reddy and MLC Chengalrayudu rushed to New Delhi to
prevail upon the party high-command not to agree to inclusion of
Ramachandraiah in the ministry.
Their contention: When a very senior leader like D Srinivas could not
be made a minister due to his Kapu caste, how the party choose
Ramachandraiah, a Kapu and also a new entrant.
They are not able to digest the fact that he has got precedence over
many Congress leaders from the district. However, the Kadapa leaders
were reportedly told in no uncertain words about the high-command's
decision to concede the demand of Chiranjeevi to allot ministerships
to Ghanta Srinivasa Rao from Anakapalli and C Ramachandraiah from
Kadapa. They could not even get audience with party's AP in-charge
Ghulam Nabi Azad and returned disappointed. They, however, maintained
that they had been to Delhi "on personal work."
Thus, Ramachandraiah is faced with the prospects of strong dissidence
from his district and they may queer the pitch for him at every
opportune moment. However, in case Ramachandraiah is denied cabinet
berth, the Congress will have to contend with opposition from the PRP
cadres and the Kapu community, which would have adverse impact during
the polls.
Profile
Chennamsetty Ramachandraiah, hailing from Rajampeta of Kadapa
district, is an MLC and senior leader of PRP. Ramachandraiah
was a politburo member in TDP and also Rajya Sabha member before he
joined PRP during 2009 Assembly elections.
He was a minister in NTR's cabinet from 1986-88. A Chartered
Accountant by profession, he won as an MLC from Kadapa under the
category of MLA quota constituency.
Though the PRP ceased to exist after its merger with the Congress,
the leadership and cadre remained working separately to gain power and
influence.
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