NALGONDA: The race for the Nalgonda District Congress Committee (DCC) president post has turned into a high-stakes political contest, with two senior leaders — former minister K Jana Reddy and current Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy — pulling out all the stops to secure the position for their loyalists.
While Jana Reddy is rooting for Kondeti Mallaiah, Venkat Reddy is backing Gummula Mohan Reddy, setting the stage for a fierce internal contest that has gripped Congress circles in the district.
Recently, former AICC general secretary Biswa Ranjan Mohanty toured the district, holding extensive consultations with local leaders and grassroots workers to gauge their opinions before the leadership makes a final call. Party workers from various constituencies reportedly pitched for their preferred candidates during these meetings.
Applications for the post were submitted by G Mohan Reddy, K Mallaiah, Sunkaraboina Narsimha Yadav, Dayakar Goud, Punna Kailash and several others. However, the main contest appears to be shaping up between Mallaiah and Mohan Reddy.
BC leaders’ demand
Adding another layer to the political equation, BC leaders have pointed out that since 2009, the Nalgonda DCC president’s post has not gone to a Backward Class candidate, with the post being held by leaders from SC, ST and OC communities.
They also note that no BC leader currently represents the Congress in the district as an MP, MLA or MLC.
On the other hand, Jana Reddy is actively lobbying for Mallaiah, a Scheduled Caste leader and long-time associate who has stood by him through thick and thin.
Eyes on high command
Meanwhile, Mohan Reddy, Komatireddy’s choice, enjoys considerable support within the district organisation.
Party sources said that during AICC leader Mohanty’s visit, most local leaders and workers proposed Mohan’s name for the top post.
As lobbying reaches its peak, all eyes are now on the Congress high command — which must walk a political tightrope, balancing seniority, caste representation and organisational strength before deciding who will take the reins of the Nalgonda DCC.
