Congress to replace Telangana unit president CM Revanth Reddy after Lok Sabha polls

AICC in charge for Telangana Deepa Dasmunshi — who has been tasked to review the list of the probable names — is understood to have sent a few names to the high command for consideration.

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The probables

Even though Congress MLC and TPCC vice-president B Mahesh Kumar Goud — who hails from the Nizamabad district — stands a better chance, he is more interested in securing a berth in Revanth Reddy Cabinet.

Though he is not averse to taking the reins of the TPCC, his first priority is landing a Cabinet berth. If he fails to find his way into the Cabinet, he might accept the leadership of the TPCC.

According to sources, since the incumbent PCC president belongs to the Reddy community, the party cannot appoint another from the same community, even though former MLA T Jayaprakash Reddy alias Jagga Reddy has been trying for the post for a very long time.

Another contender from the Reddy community is P Sudarshan Reddy from the Nizamabad district but the party might not consider either of them due to their caste.

Since Mahesh Kumar Goud is from a backward class (BC) caste, he has a better chance of making the cut.

The party is already facing flak for not giving enough representation to the BCs in the allotment of tickets in the Lok Sabha elections.

To assuage their ruffled feelings, the party had nominated Teenmar Mallanna alias Chinnapandu Naveen Kumar for the by-election to the Legislative Council from the Warangal, Khammam and Nalgonda Graduates constituency.

Might continue the tradition

It has been a tradition in the Congress that a PCC president would be from the BC caste when there is a Reddy leader as the chief minister.

When YS Rajasekhar Reddy was the chief minister, Munnur Kapu leader D Srinivas was the PCC chief.

When the party lost the election in 2014, the Andhra Pradesh PCC president who presided over the party for the entire undivided state was also a BC — Botcha Satyanarayana who is a Turpu Kapu, recognised as a BC caste in North Andhra districts.

The post of the PCC president is a major responsibility since whoever heads the party would have to have a good understanding with the chief minister and they need to chalk out plans to strengthen the party together.

As Mahesh Kumar Goud is in the good books of the chief minister, he may not have any issues to head the state unit of the party.

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The SC equation

If the party decides to appoint someone belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, it might consider the name of Mallu Ravi.

Ravi has recently fought the election for Lok Sabha from Nagarkurnool. The party may not find any objection to appointing him since he is a seasoned Mala leader with vast experience serving the party.

The party may also consider SA Sampath Kumar, who belongs to the Madiga sub-caste of the SCs if it decides to favour the numerically strong sub-cate.

The party sources said that there is also a possibility that the high command might consider Tribal Welfare Minister Danasari Anasuya alias Seethakka.

If she makes the cut, Seethakka will be creating history by becoming the first woman president of the PCC. If Mahesh Kumar Goud is taken into the Cabinet, Setthakka might be considered for the PCC post while being a minister.

Considering the current scenarios, the party might favour Mahesh Kumar Goud as he happens to have good relations with both newcomers and the old guard in the party and has remained non-controversial, without taking sides with anyone but always trying to bring them together.

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)