Consensus eludes Congress on successor of Uttam

Hyderabad: Consensus is eluding the Telangana Congress in naming the successor to PCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy in case of his replacement after the completion of the municipal polls.

The leaders of the party are differing with each other on the name of the successor to Uttam Kumar Reddy. The AICC is waiting for consensus on appointing new PCC president.

According to sources in the party, no two groups of the Congress are in favour of proposing a successor to Uttam Kumar Reddy. Though some names have been doing rounds, the leaders are differing with each other on accepting a name.

The sources said that names of MPs Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, A Revanth Reddy, MLA D Sridhar Babu, MLC T Jeevan Reddy, former leader of opposition in Assembly K Jana Reddy, and AICC secretary V Hanumantha Rao are making rounds in the Congress circles.

They said that the AICC considered the name of Revanth Reddy for the PCC president post after the end of the Parliament elections.

However, other groups have opposed his name and lodged complaints against him with the high command. With this the AICC has gone back. The main objection of the Congress leaders is that Revanth has joined the Congress from other party. Appointing a leader who worked in other party would send wrong signals.

The sources said that Uttam Kumar Reddy was in favour of proposing Komatireddy Venkat Reddy as his successor. But other groups have been opposing his name citing his brother and MLA Rajagopal Reddy's anti party activities.

Though Jeevan Reddy could emerge as consensus candidate, all the groups of Congress are yet to come to an understanding on that. His name would be proposed as a compromise candidate. The name of Sridhar Babu is proposed by a group of Telangana Congress leaders. But this proposal is also facing some opposition.

Party leaders said that the high command may take up the replacement of Uttam after the end of the municipal elections. The high command is now busy with the issues like formation of government in Maharashtra and with the elections in Jharkhand.

They said that the municipal polls would end in November and the high command would put its focus on the affairs of Telangana Congress in December. However, without a common opinion on the successor it would not be easy for the AICC to appoint the new PCC president.