Chiranjeevi, Renuka For RS Seat

The Congress party, on Sunday, finalised a list of 3 out of 4 candidates, for the Rajya Sabha elections.

Erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party president and Tirupati MLA K Chiranjeevi, party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary and former minister P Govardhan Reddy have been nominated for the Rajya Sabha seats.

Govardhan Reddy is a former minister, and hails from Nalgonda district.

However, for the 4th seat, the party is considering the candidature of AICC General Secretary B K Hari Prasad, and former minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir.

According to sources, the PCC had earlier shortlisted the names of 10 aspirants for the 4 out of 6 Rajya Sabha seats, which are up for elections in Andhra Pradesh.

The short-listed candidates included Chiranjeevi, Renuka Chowdhary, former speaker K R Suresh Reddy, media baron T Venkatram Reddy, Penna Cement owner Prathap Reddy, GMR chairman G Mallikarjuna Rao, GVK Group chairman G V Krishna Reddy, Y S Vivekananda Reddy and Shabbir Ali.

The list also included the names of present members K Kesava Rao, Dasari Narayana Rao and Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi.

However, while the candidature of Chiranjeevi and Renuka Chowdhary was expected, the selection of Govardhan Reddy and Hari Prasad surprised the state's Congress leaders. (INN)