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Sunday, Jan 14, 2007
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Council: party loyalists to be rewarded

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister's promise to `those who have made sacrifices'

HYDERABAD: The constitution of the Legislative Council might bring cheer to those Congress leaders who were deprived of the party ticket to contest the 2004 general election. Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy is contemplating to reward "those who have made sacrifices" during selection of candidates for elections to the Upper House.

Several key Congress leaders were deprived of the ticket in the Telangana region owing to the party's seat-sharing arrangement with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in 2004. Even some members of the dissolved Assembly were deprived of the opportunity to contest due to internal political pressures. Some of these could now be chosen to go to the Council.

Dr. Reddy said in an informal chat with reporters here on Saturday that "several Congressmen were denied ticket due to various reasons in the last elections. There are also those who have dedicated their lives to party work. Such persons need to be recognised."

The Chief Minister hinted that there was slim chance of giving extension to chairpersons of any of the corporations whose two-year term ended recently. "We have to accommodate others in their posts," he said in an indication of his preference for the rotation system. Similarly, directors of these corporations would be shown the door. However, he did not rule out elevating some chairpersons to the Council.

Cabinet expansion, he said, might get delayed if the notification for the Council was issued around January 20.

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