May 28: The Congress leader, Mr Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, is reportedly upset over nominated MLCs list of Governor’s quota, whose names were declared on Saturday. Mr Vivekananda Reddy met the state Congress affairs in-charge, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad and political secretary to Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Mr Ahmed Patel, in Delhi, and sought a berth in the state Cabinet four days ago.

However, he did not find his name in the MLCs list. Mr Vivekananda Reddy contested unsuccessfully as Congress candidate against his sister-in-law, Mrs Y.S. Vijaya Lakshmi, from Pulivendula Assembly constituency in the byelection following his resignation from agriculture ministerial post. Several Congress leaders blamed him for Congress debacle in Pulivendula. He expected a berth in the Cabinet, as he was loyal to Congress though his nephew, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, floated YSR Congress following former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s demise.

A senior Congress legislator said that the Congress high command refused to nominate candidates for MLC posts, who were defeated in elections. The Congress functionaries are hoping that Mr Viveka would get prestigious position in government soon, to check YSR Congress in the district. Sources said that the Congress has entrusted Mr Viveka with the task of ensuring Congress victory in local bodies elections in the district. However, Mr Viveka’s plans to get inducted into state Cabinet were dashed on Saturday, as he did not find his name in newly-nominated MLCs list.

He is likely to get chairman post for state owned corporation soon. Mr Reddy, who reportedly confessed before Congress high command his poor performance in Pulivendula bypoll, accepted that he would serve the party in whatever capacity it directed him to do so.