With ten Legislative Council seats under the MLAs’ quota and one seat from the Hyderabad Local Authorities Constituency having been filled with elected representatives, all eyes are now on the four seats which governor ESL Narasimhan will fill with nomination.
As the four incumbents under the governor’s quota will be completing their term by March 29, aspirants in the Congress have started hectic lobbying to enter the Upper House of the legislature with governor’s nomination.
From the progeny of political families and veteran politicos to academicians are vying to enter the State Legislative Council under governor’s quota. Prominent among them is educationist and former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao’s daughter S Vani Devi who runs Sri Venkateswara Fine Arts College at Madhapur here. Interestingly, Rao’s son, PV Ranga Rao, whose term in the Council under governor’s quota is ending on March 29,is also trying for another term.
Former deputy chief minister C Jagannadha Rao’s son Srinivas and former MP R Surender Reddy’s son and chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s confidant R Raghurami Reddy are also in the race. Raghurami Reddy is said to be Kiran’s choice. Eluru MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao’s daughter Srinagari is another aspirant to the seat.
Of the veteran politicos trying their luck to enter the Council, PCC disciplinary committee chairman Kanteti Satyanarayana Raju is in the forefront. Former minister Mohammed Fariduddin, PCC spokesman B Kamalakar Rao, former legislator A Vithal Reddy, PCC vice-president Madasu Gangadharam and sitting member Bharati Dheeravat Ragya Naik, whose term is ending by March 29, are also keen to enter the Upper House. Gangadharam is said to have the backing of PCC chief.
PCC IT Cell convener Bhamidipati Ramamurthy, and Union minister K Chiranjeevi’s close aide and former IPS officer DT Naik are also trying their luck.
Two academics _ agricultural scientist Aldas Janaiah (Telangana) and chairman of AP Bio-diversity Cell R Hampaiah (Rayalaseema) _ are in the race for the seat being vacated by agricultural scientist MV Rao (Andhra). It is learnt that Janaiah’s name has been suggested by agriculture minister Kanna Lakshminarayana.
Hampaiah, who played a key role in holding the COP-11 successfully recently, has the backing of former Rajya Sabha member K Kesava Rao.