New TPCC likely to be constituted by next week

Hyderabad: The process to constitute new Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has picked up momentum with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) beginning consultations with all stakeholders. The leaders in the race have been camping in Delhi to test their luck. The AICC may take a decision by next week.

According to party sources, senior leaders of the AICC have begun the consultations with the TPCC leaders. The high command had already discussed the issue with TPCC president and MP from Nalgonda N Uttam Kumar Reddy.

They are also in touch with Congress Legislature Party leader in the Assembly Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.

Party leaders said Vikramarka has been camping in Delhi for the past one week and trying his luck. He has the blessings of AICC president Rahul Gandhi's office in-charge K Raju and senior leader K V P Ramachandra Rao.

Three Congress MPs, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and A Revanth Reddy, were also in Delhi last week to participate in the Parliament sessions. They are likely to go to Delhi on Monday morning and would continue to be in touch with the AICC.

The AICC leaders have been discussing the issue with the MPs, Vikramarka and party State affairs in-charge R C Khuntia.

The consultation process may continue for few more days and the announcement may come by end of this week. According to party leaders, the two groups, one led by Uttam Kumar Reddy and another by Vikramarka, are vying with each other for the post of TPCC president. Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and A Revanth Reddy are also in the race.

The Uttam's group consists of MLA D Sridhar Babu, MLC T Jeevan Reddy, Shabbir Ali and others. Vikramarka group includes his brother and former MP Mallu Ravi and few PCC leaders.

Both the groups had already made their points clear to the high command.

According to sources, Vikramarka has been demanding that the high command appoint him as TPCC president since he forfeited the leader of Opposition due to defection of 12 MLAs.

The Uttam's group has been arguing that running the party for the next three years would be a tough task and a leader from the dominating community only could bear the burden.