NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD: In a significant move, the Congress high command on Thursday decided to field former chief minister and Lok Sabha member from Visakhapatnam Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy in the bye-election to the Rajya Sabha.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi herself conveyed the decision to Janardhan Reddy when the latter called on her. Janardhan Reddy, who was keen to contest the Lok Sabha seat from Nellore, was disappointed with the decision. However, he rushed to Hyderabad to file his nomination on March 13, the last day of nominations.
The by-election to the Rajya Sabha will be held on March 23 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of TDP MP C Ramachandraiah. The new Rajya Sabha member will have a 14- month tenure. Ramachandraiah had put in his papers a few months ago after switching his loyalty from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP).
Announcing the decision of the party high command, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and incharge of party affairs in the State Veerappa Moily said it was taken as part of the process of adjustments. He said a decision would be taken soon on the candidatures of Union Ministers Panabaka Lakshmi and Purandeshwari. He informed that the party’s screening committee would meet on Friday.
Janardhan Reddy was keen on contesting the Nellore Lok Sabha seat this time.
After 42 years, Nellore has been made a general constituency. The proposal was discussed at the party’s screening committee and the decision was left to party president Sonia Gandhi.
Reacting to the party high command’s decision, Janardhan Reddy said he would always abide by the decision of the party.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy reached the capital tonight to have consultations with the party leaders on the selection of candidates.
Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president D Srinivas has announced the names of nine party candidates for the vacant MLC seats under Local Authority Constituencies (LAC) category.
The following are the candidates who have already been approved by Congress president Sonia Gandhi -- Konda Muralidhar Rao - Warangal, Pothula Rama Rao - Prakasam, Datla Venkata Suryanarayana Raju - Visakhapatnam, Nethi Vidya Sagar - Nalgonda, V Bhoopal Reddy - Medak, R Venkatarama Reddy - Nizamabad, Taniparthi Bhanu Prasad Rao - Karimnagar, S Jagadeeswara Reddy - Mahaboobnagar and Katireddy Laxma Reddy - Khammam.
PCC general secretary Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar issued both `A’ and `B’ forms to the candidates for the March 30 elections. They are expected to file their nomination papers tomorrow.