The Congress High Command, as part of its exercise of revamping and rejuvenating the party in Telangana State, might replace K. Jana Reddy as Leader of the Opposition and appoint a stronger leader in his place who can effectively take on the ruling TRS in the State Legislative Assembly.
According to informed sources, the change might be effected as early as possible in tune with the changes already effected in the Pradesh Congress Committee. However, senior party leaders feel that Jana Reddy may not be disturbed at least till the completion of the budget session of the Assembly during the month end.
Since the Congress High Command has already begun the exercise of revamping the party in Telangana State by replacing the incumbent TPCC President with Uttam Kumar Reddy, changing Jana Reddy as Leader of Opposition in the Assembly seem to have become imminent.
There is no denial of the fact that senior Congress leaders including legislators were not only disappointed, but felt completely let down with the style of functioning of Jana Reddy in cornering the ruling TRS party during the last session of the Assembly. Congress leaders were aghast at the soft and meek attitude of Jana Reddy as Leader of the Opposition in failing to utilize ample opportunity in the last Assembly session in pushing to the wall the TRS Government on various issues concerning the people.
In this context, it is also being pointed out that the Congress legislators like T. Jeevan Reddy, Bhatti Vikramarka, D.K. Aruna, Geetha Reddy and others had successfully and vociferously cornered the government and even derailed the proceedings in the Assembly on issues like farmers suicide and loan waiver to farmers etc. This happened during the absence of Jana Reddy for two days when he could not attend the session.
As there are many issues that have surfaced now like shifting of the chest hospital, relocating the Secretariat, move to auction government lands etc, the Congress leaders feel that yet another opportunity has come for putting the ruling TRS in the firing range in the Assembly. Hence they feel the urgent need to replace Jana Reddy with a strong and forceful leader with enough fire power to launch an onslaught on the government.
Since the Assembly session commences on March 7, the question of replacing Jana Reddy now is ruled out. Thus the status qua would be maintained for now and the change might be at any cost effected after the budget session of the Assembly. Party sources also point out that once the Gandhi Scion Rahul Gandhi takes the reins of the AICC shortly, the change is bound to take place.
It is also pertinent to note that Jana Reddy, who is in New Delhi and participated in the meting with Sonia Gandhi along with other Telangana Congress leaders, is understood to have expressed his unhappiness and dissent over change of guard in the TPCC at this juncture when the State Assembly session was round the corner. (NSS).