It appears Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president and Malkajgiri MP A Revanth Reddy has realised that he may have to face a stiff resistance from other seniors in the party, if he is projected as the chief ministerial candidate in the coming assembly elections.
That is perhaps why he wants to project tribal MLA Dhanasari Anasuya alias Seethakka from Mulugu constituency, his strong associate in the Telugu Desam Party in the past, as the chief ministerial candidate of the party, to counter the other serious contenders like Komatireddy Venkat Reddy or Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.
Revanth Reddy had face this embarrassing question from Telugu NRIs at TANA conference in the US on Saturday, as to whether he would like to pitch himself for the chief minister post or project a Dalit leader or a tribal leader for the post.
“Can a Dalit and a tribal become the Chief Minister in Telangana? If the Congress achieves victory in Telangana, will at least the position of Deputy Chief Minister be given to a tribal leader like Seethakka,” the NRIs asked Revanth at an interaction.
Responding to this, Revanth said it was not a tradition of the Congress party to announce the Chief Ministerial candidate before the elections.
“But if the situation arises, Seethakka could also become the party's Chief Ministerial candidate,” he said.
He claimed that the Polavaram Project in Andhra Pradesh and the construction of Amaravati, the capital city, were initiatives of the Congress party. He clarified that completing both of these was the principle of the Congress.
He expressed his desire to do anything for the people and requested the opportunity in the upcoming elections. He asked for necessary assistance and cooperation to bring the party to power in the coming elections.
He stated that it would be incorrect to view the party and him separately, and declared that in Telangana, Revanth Reddy is the Congress and the Congress is Revanth Reddy.