Hyderabad: With Mr Rahul Gandhi all set to become AICC president, the debate in the Telangana state Congress is regarding the possibility of change of guard.
Most leaders feel there the PCC president, Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy, will not be replaced primarily for two reasons. The Assembly elections are 18 months from now, and a change of guard at this juncture could send a wrong message. Secondly, finding an alternative could turn out to be a problem.
AICC in-charge secretary R.C. Kunthia and AICC SC cell chairman Koppula Raju, confidants of Mr Gandhi, are in favour of continuing with Uttam Kumar Reddy till the elections. In the past six months, the state Congress has mounted several agitations, which the AICC has found to its satisfaction. There was a demand to find a TS Congress chief from the BC communities to take on the TRS, and former PCC chiefs V. Hanumantha Rao and Ponnala Laxmaiah were considered but the plan was dropped.
A revamp of party organisations is expected. It is being speculated that former Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy might be inducted into the Congress Working Committee considering his experience. There might be a chance for only general secretary from the TS Congress. This post could be offered to Mr Laxmaiah or Mr Hanumantha Rao. New entrant A. Revanth Reddy might head the campaign committee.
