CM, DS disagree on MLCs

By Our Correspondent
Hyderabad, Jan. 20: The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy and the PCC chief, Dr Srinivas, are not in agreement on the MLCs who should be re-nominated to the Legislative Council in the ensuing elections to fill up 11 vacancies.
Earlier, Dr Reddy and Mr Srinivas had also spoken in different voices on the issue of separate Telangana.
Filing of nominations for the council polls began on Tuesday and would come to an end on January 27. All the 11 seats falling vacant are being held by the Congress.
Dr Reddy has decided to draw up the final list of candidates by sitting along with Mr Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of AP Congress affairs, and the PCC chief.
Both Dr Reddy and Mr Srinivas have decided to follow the AICC’s principle of renominating those retiring from Rajya Sabha in the council polls too.
However, they would have to make some hard choices as the Congress would only be able to return eight members. The Opposition combine of Telugu Desam, TRS, CPI and CPI(M) can win two seats comfortably. There will be a keen fight to win the remaining seat.
Also, the Cabinet has decided to send the senior minister, Mr K. Rosaiah to the Council this time. This means that the party will have to deny re-nomination to four of its retiring MLCs. Initially, Dr Reddy, thinking of making some of the retiring MLCs candidates in the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
Mr Kanumuri Bapi Raju’s name was being proposed for Narsapur Lok Sabha segment and Mr Tippeswamy was being touted as the candidate for Hindupur Assembly segment.
However, MLCs from Telangana are interested in going back to the council.
“I met the Chief Minister seeking re-nomination and he promised to consider my case,” said Mr Palvai Govardhana Reddy.
Party sources said the Chief Minister’s camp was not happy with Mr K.R. Amos and Mr K. Yadava Reddy but their re-nomination is supported by PCC chief.