Who Will Be Next PCC Chief?

While the candidates for posts of Deputy Chief Minister and the Speaker have been finalized upon, confusion still surrounds the position of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief.

According to sources, the role of the PCC chief was rendered insignificant during the reign of ex-Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who virtually overshadowed the then PCC chiefs K Keshava Rao and D Srinivas.

However, the demographics of the current political terrain are vastly different, and the High Command seeks to appoint a PCC chief who can usher in some semblance of order into the state affairs.

Going by reports, Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana stands as the hot favourite of the High Command. Also in the fray for the PCC chief berth are V Hanumantha Rao, Kanna Lakshminarayana, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, D Sridhar Babu, Mallu Ravi, Sambani Chandrasekhar and Basavaraju Saraiah and Bhatti Vikramarka.

The High Command intends to appoint as the PCC chief, a minister who is capable of striking the perfect balance between being independent and working alonside the state government. It has been reported that leaders such as Sridhar Babu, Vikramarka, Sambani, Ragya Naik and Sambani are being considered too inexperienced to handle the responsibilities of a PCC chief.

This tall order narrows the field to Botsa Satyanarayana, Mallu Ravi, V Hanumantha Rao and Ponnala Lakshmaiah.