Ponnala Appoints TPCC Spokespersons, Ignores Muslims

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Ponnala Lakshmaiah on Friday finalised the names of 17 spokespersons for the TPCC.

Those nominated as TPCC spokespersons include Dr Mallu Ravi, B Kamalakara Rao, B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Cheeti Umesh Rao, Pyata Ramesh, Gudu Narayan Reddy, K Mruthyunjayam, Sambari Samma Rao, Bandi Narsa Goud, G Niranjan, A Shyam Mohan, Krishank Manne, Addanki Dayakar, S Charan Koushik Yadav and K Vijaya Kumar.

Two women - T Kalpana Reddy and Dugyala Srinivas - have also been named as the party's spokespersons.

However, Ponnala's decision is likely to draw criticism as he has not included a single Muslim in the list of 17 spokespersons.

The last nominations done for the Telangana PCC and the denial of politically significant posts have already drawn widespread criticism from the Muslim community. While former minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir was made Co-Chairman of the Media Campaign Committee, no other Muslim leader was given any important post.

The new TPCC President is already facing the allegations of alleged discrimination against Muslim leaders, and the new appointments of spokespersons is likely to strengthen the argument that the Congress party was not giving importance to the minority community. (INN)