CM Revanth, plus 1-2 deputies: Congress works out Telangana formula

The AICC observers — Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Karnataka minister K J George, Lok Sabha MP K Muraleedharan and senior leaders Ajoy Kumar and Deepa Dasmunsi — then met the MLAs one by one to elicit their views. Sources said the majority of the MLAs favoured Revanth Reddy.

Many left the decision to the high command. Sources said the party is thinking about appointing one or two deputy CMs to strike a caste balance. There is demand for appointment of a Dalit and person from the backward class community as deputy CMs. Senior MLA Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, the present CLP leader, belongs to the Mala (SC) community.

The resolution was moved by Revanth Reddy and was seconded by Vikaramarka, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Damodar Rajanarasimha, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, Tummala Nageshwara Rao, D Anasuya, and Prem Sagar. Vikramarka, Uttam Kumar Reddy, and Venkat Reddy are also in the race for the CM’s post.

“The legislators resolved that they will abide by whatever decision the AICC takes. The resolution also thanks the people of Telangana for giving an opportunity to the Congress. The newly elected legislators thanked AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and all senior Congress leaders who campaigned here,” Shivakumar said.

Senior Congress leaders and Shivakumar held a short meeting at a hotel in the city before the CLP meeting was held. The CLP meeting lasted for about 20 minutes. Shivakumar will hand over the report of the observers to Kharge on Tuesday after which the decision of the high command will be announced.

Although, all senior Congress MLAs seconded the resolution authorising the AICC to name the CLP leader, many of the leaders are not in favour of Revanth but the high command feels he has the support of the party cadre and that it was he who had energised and gave life to the Congress campaign leading from the front.