Notwithstanding the absence of any clear timeline on the Telangana state coming into existence, the race for the chief minister's post is hotting up. Though not openly, hectic lobbying is reported in Congress and other party circles for the most
Dr. J Geeta Reddy, a doctor-turned-politician and a minister in Kiran Reddy cabinet, is a dalit leader. It was former PM Rajiv Gandhi who had brought her to politics from Saudi Arabia, where she had a flourishing medical practice.
D K Aruna, who is currently the Minster of Information and Public Relations in the Kiran Kumar Reddy's government was the cabinet member in the late YS Rajasekhar Reddy council of ministers.
Ponnala Lakshmaiah Lakshmaiah, who began working with the Congress Party in 1980, is the minister for information technology and communications in Andhra Pradesh. This is his fourth term in the Assembly from the Janagam Constituency in Warangal
Next in the race is the Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, D Sridhar Babu, who is an architect of the Rs 1 per kg rice scheme announced by the Kiran Kumar Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh.
Former APCC chief D Srinivas too is in the race and has been making an effort to take people from Seemandhra into confidence by saying that the Congress would address their concerns after the formation of Telangana.
M Shashidhar Reddy, vice-chairman of National Disaster Management Authority, could emerge the dark horse. Being the son of former chief minister Marri Chenna Reddy, who had contributed a lot for the T-movement, Shashidhar might have fair chances.
In his 30-year political careeer, Pancahayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy has to his credit of reviving the Congress in Telangana region by fighting the Telugu Desam Party, which he defeated in 2004 and became a Cabinet minister. With his impeccable
Echoing the same is V Hanumantha Rao, a former minister and a three-time MP, who said the selection of CM is the discretion of Sonia Gandhi. Rao, who is launching the Indira Rath Yatra to thank Sonia for making Telangana a reality, exuded confidence
Another Union Minister Sarve Satyanarayana has also thrown his hat into the ring by saying he is capable of taking up the job. Satyanarayana recently said: "If there's amma's (read Cong chief Sonia Gandhi) grace, I can become CM. I have the
Jaipal Reddy faces stern competition from deputy chief minister Damodar Rajanarasimha. An engineer turned politician, Rajanarasimha has emerged the positive voice of Telangana. He is all praise for Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi, whom he credits for
This is the fifth term in the 15th Lok Sabha for Jaipal Reddy, whose political career began as the president of Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress in 1965 and then he was the AP MLA. But his consecutive victory in Lok Sabha, made him a prominent Union
Among the top contenders is Union Minister for Science and Technology S Jaipal Reddy, who till recently was more popular as the Union minister than the man from Andhra Pradesh. But now, he has begun showing off his inclination to the cause of
With the Telangana Bill likely to be placed before the Lok Sabha during Winter session, there is hope that the new state will become a reality in two months. That very hope is prompting over a dozen of political leaders to work hard towards grabbing