YSR Congress is said to be courting Congress senior leader and MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao who is in a state of depression after the party high command has ignored his claim for the TTD chairman post.
Rayapati has been totally unhappy when his claim for union cabinet berth was ignored. He has even thought of leaving the Congress party and active politics after his claim for the TTD post was rejected by the party leadership which chose Kanumuri Bapiraju for the post. Ignoring his claim again, the high command has appointed Bapiraju for a two-year term after his initial term of one year has come to an end.
Rayapati was aghast when comparative juniors like Dasari Narayana Rao and Purandareswari were made union ministers.
He had accepted the humiliation then, and hoped for at least the TTD post. There also he had to put up with embarrassment when his claim for the TTD post was rejected not once but twice. He has already expressed his dissent and openly said that party was not giving recognition to those who have been toiling for it since decades. It was also then said that the strong Guntur leader was thinking of joining the TDP.
When he met Sonia Gandhi after Bapiraju was appointed TTD chairman for the first term, she has reportedly assured him that he would be appointed after Bapiraju’s term ends. However the party leadership has extended the term of Bapiraju for two more years.
Soon after knowing about Bapiraju’s appointment, Rayapati made himself unavailable on Saturday night. He has reportedly consulted his supporters about his future course of action.
Sensing the discontent of Rayapati, the YSRCP has started efforts to take him into its fold. Party district leaders are of the view that if a strong leader of the Kamma community like Rayapati could be won over, the party would be able to make a dent in the strength of the TDP in Guntur district.
It is learnt that Rayapati is still not very much inclined to join the Jagan bandwagon because of the serious financial allegations he has been facing.
Rayapati also has several cases pending, including cheating of the Chinese government in supply of tobacco. His opponent and minister Kanna Lakshmi Narayana has openly stated that Rayapati was not accommodated in the union cabinet, as there were several cases pending against him. Sources say that Rayapati has his own fears that Congress would start witch hunting once he left the party. (NSS)