The Congress High Command, in all probability, might effect a change of the APCC president some time during September as part of its revamp exercise of various State party units.
According to informed sources, megastar-turned politician and Rajya Sabha member Konidala Chiranjeevi seemed to be the front runner for replacing the incumbent PCC Chief Botcha Satyanarayana. These sources pointed out that the High Command had already begun the exercise of revamping various State party units and appointing new PCC presidents like in Uttar Pradesh and other States.
The three-member committee, comprising Ghulam Nabi Azad, Veerappa Moily and A.K. Antony, constituted by AICC supremo Sonia Gandhi to oversee the party affairs in Andhra Pradesh is expected to meet on Wednesday evening and finalize the name of the new leader to take the reins as APCC president. An announcement to this effect is expected from New Delhi sooner than later.
One of the reasons necessitated for the High Command to decide to change the party chief in the State is utter lack of coordination between the present incumbent Botcha Satyanarayana and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy. It is an open secret that the PCC Chief and the Chief Minister did not see eye to eye on various issues and openly vent their feelings thus creating a vertical split in the State Congress. In fact, at every given opportunity, both lodged complaints against each other to the High Command. The poor performance of the Congress in the by-elections in the State was even attributed to the raging cold war between the two leaders.
Thus the High Command seemed to be have been left with no other option than to change Botcha Satyanarayana and appoint in his place a suitable leader, who could strengthen and prepare the party to face the 2014 elections. Though there are many aspirants, the mantle might fall on Chiranjeevi, who belongs to the powerful and influential Kapu community.
Spelling out the thinking among the Central leaders in selecting the new PCC president, seniors like V. Hanumantha Rao, D. Srinivas and K. Keshav Rao, all former PCC Chiefs, have been tested and found wanting in taking on one platform all sections and groups in the party. Even leaders like K. Jana Reddy, Marri Shashidar Reddy, Paladugu Venkata Rao, K.S. Rao and the likes may not be acceptable to some sections besides they lack the needed charisma.
Thus considering various aspects, the High Command might zero in on Chiranjeevi as his is not only a charismatic and popular being a film star but also can influence the Kapu vote bank. Moreover, keeping in view the attempts by the Telugu Desam and YSR Congress parties trying to woo the BCs by promising to earmark 100 seats for the BCs in the 294-member State Assembly, Chiranjeevi being a Kapu and protagonist of the BCs might become the obvious choice for being considered as new PCC president.
It may be recalled that Chiranjeevi has been aspiring for a higher and influential position in the Congress after merger of his Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress. As a matter of fact, he has been hoping to be inducted in the Union cabinet after having been made a member of Rajya Sabha. It is also pertinent to note here that he was given an audience by Sonia Gandhi a few days back though Botcha Satyanarayana could not meet her despite spending nearly a week in the national capital. During the meeting with the AICC president, the issue of appointing a new PCC Chief seemed to have also figured and a hint was also given to him to be prepared to play a bigger role in the State party affairs.
Informed sources disclosed that the High Command might entrust the State party affairs to Chiranjeevi with the condition that he should strive in rebuilding the party by taking along with him all sections and ensure the party to come back to power in 2014 when the reins of the State leadership would be handed over to him. Thus it should also be construed that there is no threat for the moment to Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy.
However, rabid Congress loyalists wonder whether the High Command would ignore senior loyalists and hand over the party reins to a person who had floated a political party and indulged in Congress bashing and then merged with it after his own party failed to create any impact. (NSS)