The party was inclined to look for a BC candidate to lead the PCC as the chief minister is a Reddy, which is a forward caste.
Published Sep 06, 2024 | 7:50 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 06, 2024 | 7:50 PM
Mahesh Kumar Goud. (Facebook)
Ending months of suspense, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Friday, 6 September, appointed MLC Bomma Mahesh Kumar Goud as president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC).
The party leadership, after shortlisting the aspirants’ names to Mahesh Kumar Goud and former MP Madhu Yashki Goud, finally preferred the farmer.
An official communication appointing Mahesh Kumar Goud as PCC president was issued by party general secretary KC Venugopal.
Mahesh Kumar Goud was holding the position of TPCC working president (organisation).
With the appointment, he became the fourth president of the TPCC. The first president was former minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah between Marh 2014 and March 2015, followed by N Uttam Kumar March 2015 and July 2021. A Revanth Reddy, who is the chief minister of Telangana now, became the president of the TPPCC on 7 July, 2021.
Mahesh Kumar Goud who contested Assembly elections unsuccessfully in 2014 from Nizamabad Urban, kept away from Assembly elections since then.
After the Congress came to power in the state in December last year, he was sent to the Legislative Council in January. The Nizamabad leader is a Karate black belt holder and president of the Telangana Sports Karate Association.
Reacting to his appointment as the chief of the PCC, Mahesh Kumar Goud said that he, in his new capacity, would work with dedication to further strengthen the party.
“I will always be available to all the party leaders and workers. I will act as a bridge between the party and the government,” he said. He thanked top leaders of the party Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Kharge and KC Venugopal.
The party, before appointing Mahesh Kumar Goud as the PCC president, took the opinion of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other important leaders including Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and N Uttam Kumar Reddy and AICC in charge for Telangana Deepa Dasmunsi on 24 August. The leaders had a long session with party top leader Rahul Gandhi, president Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary KC Venugopal.
The party began shortlisting the candidates after Revanth Reddy requested the party high command to relieve him of the responsibilities of the PCC.
He has been doubling up both as PCC president and the chief minister after the Congress came to power in the state.
Ever since several Congress leaders had set their eyes on the coveted post as they knew that sooner than later Revanth Reddy would be stepping down as the PCC chief.
Since the beginning, the party was very much inclined to look for a candidate from the Backwards Caste (BC) community to lead the PCC as the chief minister is a Reddy, which is a forward caste.
However, leaders from other communities, mainly from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC), were also trying their best to land the post.
Former Union minister and MP Porika Balaram Naik, who is a tribal, threw in his hat for the post. Similarly, Adluri Laxman, MLA from Dharpuri, also positioned himself as one of the aspirants.
As BCs constitute more than 50 percent of the population and Gouds being a major caste among the BCs, the state leaders of the party appeared to have propped up Mahesh Kumar Goud’s candidature before the party high command.
Now that the PCC president’s post has been filled, the race for the post of working president (organisation) vacated by Mahesh Kumar Goud might pick up speed.
Those among the aspirants include Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, former chairperson of Gadwal ZPCC Saritha Tirupathaiah, minorities leader Feroz Khan, and tribal leader Balu Naik.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
(South First is now on WhatsApp and Telegram)
