GHMC divisions split Congress leadership

Hyderabad: AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh on Thursday told Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district Congress leaders that the high command will decide the nature of selections of party candidates for the forthcoming GHMC polls.

However, the leaders requested him to constitute an election committee separately for Hyderabad district that comprises 100 divisions and for Ranga Reddy district which account for 50 divisions under GHMC limits.

At a meeting convened by Mr Singh, Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee president and former minister Danam Nagender objected to constituting a separate panel for the 50 divisions in RR district. He said that he was the president of the Greater Hyderabad unit of the party, hence he has the final say in selection of candidates for the 150 divisions.

This was countered by leaders like Marri Sasidhar Reddy, former MLA D. Sudheer Reddy and defeated candidates from surrounding Assembly segments, who in one voice demanded constitution of separate committees.

Mr Sasidhar Reddy said that Mr Nagender cannot be the “whole and sole” person to decide the candidates. He said that the strenuous work and opinions of other leaders should be weighed by high command.

According to sources close to Mr Nagender, he will wait for the decision of high command and will take a serious decision in case his powers as Greater Hyderabad president are clipped.