Hyderabad: After being wiped out in the elections, the Congress is now looking to have its say in the Legislative Councils of both states. The party has majority in both Councils, but is in the Opposition.
In the 50-member Seemandhra Council, the Congress had 22 but seven have joined the TD and the YSRC. The TD has seven members, the YSRC and CPI one each. There are six Independents, the PDF has five members and the PRTU two and six seats are vacant.
A. Chakrapani will continue as Chairman of the Seemandhra Council.
The Seemandhra Congress MLCs are lobbying for the post of Opposition Leader, which carries Cabinet rank. In the line are Paladugu Venkat Rao and former minister C. Ramachandraiah but most MLCs are backing former Chief Whip Rudraraju Padma Raju. Mr Ramachandraiah belongs to Rayalaseema as do APCC chief N. Raghuveera Reddy and the Council Chairman.
Mr Venkat Rao and Mr Padma Raju are from the coastal region, and the local leaders want the post to be given to one among them.
Mr Ramachandraiah was in the TD and joined the Praja Rajyam which later merged with the Congress.
The Congress leaders are demanding that the coveted post should be given to a “true” Congress man. They are also asking how three important posts, APCC chief, Council Chairman and Opposition leader can be given to one region.
Mr Venkata Rao is past 70 years of age, and his health condition may be a barrier. According to sources, Mr Raghuveera Reddy, former minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and others are backing Mr Padma Raju name for the Opposition Leader’s post.
APCC sources said that Mr Padma Raju had requested the leadership to elevate him as the Opposition leader as his term is concludes in a year
Meanwhile, Council Chairman A. Chakrapani issued notice and summoned Congress MLC K. Veerabhadra Swamy, who contested on a YSRC ticket from the the Vizianagaram Assembly seat, on May 19. On Monday, Mr Chakrapani said Mr Swamy had asked for an extension till Saturday.
Congress MLC Potula Rama Rao won on the YSRC ticket for Kandukuru will quit the Council. Congress MLC Tippe Swamy joined the TD and Mr Suryanarayana Raju, Mr B. Pullaiah and Mr Sheik Husain joined the YSRC. Mr Reddapa Reddy joined the Jai Samaikyandhra Party. The APCC leadership wants to have them disqualified.
In Telangana, eight seats are vacant in the 40-member Council. The Congress has 17 members, the TD 6, the TRS 3, The MIM 2, CPI 1, Independents 1 and others 2.
The Congress will be the main Opposition in the Telangana Council too and Senior MLC Jagadish Reddy will be made Opposition leader.
It is not knowh whether Deputy Chairman Neti Vidya Sagar will be made Chairman or it will be given to some other leader, among whom are seniors like D. Srinivas, Shabbir Ali and K.R. Amos.
