Date:17/05/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/05/17/stories/2004051702470500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Race for Zilla Parishad chief's post hots up

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD, MAY 16. The race for the post of the Zilla Parishad chairman has assumed significance in wake of the current incumbent, S.Santosh Reddy, being elected as the MLA from Armoor constituency.

The Bheemgal ZPTC seat, which is currently represented by Mr. Santosh Reddy, is expected to fall vacant once he takes oath as an MLA shortly. In the wake of a strong pro-Telangana sentiment prevailing in the region, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti swept the ZP polls in Nizamabad. Securing an absolute majority in the house, the TRS ensured that the Bheemgal ZPTC member, Mr. Santosh Reddy, and Gandhari ZPTC, Pothangal Kishan Rao, were elected chairman and vice-chairman, respectively of the Zilla Parishad. In the local body polls held two years ago, the TRS won 19 ZPTC posts while the Congress came second with 10 members. The Telugu Desam Party suffered a severe setback by managing to win only seven ZPTC seats. For more than 24 months, the TRS could comfortably rule the ZP without any problem.

The strength of the TRS, Congress and the TDP came down due to various reasons. The killing of the Congress ZPTC member from Kammarpalli, Chinta Dharmapuri, saw his widow making it to the ZP following a resolution passed in the Assembly that family members of a slain leader should be elected unanimously. But the TRS played spoilsport when it fielded its candidate despite a plea from all the political parties to respect the sentiment of the Assembly.

The Congress retained its strength at 10. The TDP suffered an unexpected setback when the Bodhan ZPTC member and former legislator, Kotha Ramakant, failed to attend three consecutive meetings of the ZP forcing the authorities to quash his membership. This came as a blessing in disguise for the Congress when its candidate, Girdawar Ganga Reddy, won the seat with a handsome margin. The strength of the Congress swelled to 11 and the TDP came down to six.

The death of Morthad ZPTC member, Prakash, and the Dichpalli ZPTC member, Laxminathuram, brought down the strength of the TRS to 17. His widow was elected unopposed retaining the strength to 19. The resignation of Mr. Santosh Reddy as the ZP chief would force a re-election. The TRS is hopeful of getting a perfect foothold in the State after the Congress party came to power. The leaders are confident that with the Congress Government being comfortably placed and the TRS also making impressive gains in the Assembly elections, the ZP would get immense importance.

Keeping this in view, the TRS ZPTC members have begun lobbying to get their candidate elected as the ZP chief. Aspirants for the post are growing by the day. The TRS, according to sources, wishes to have an in-charge chairman for at least three months. This would mean that the ZP vice-chairman, Pothangal Kishan Rao, would occupy the ZP chief's post for three months. The TRS is planning to hold election to the vacant Dichpalli and Bheemgal ZPTC seats and win the same. If the party wins the two seats it is sure to retain the ZP chief and vice-chairman's post.

The ZP vice-chairman is a frontrunner for the post while the ZPTC member from Jakranpalli, Ganta Sadanandam, is lobbying hard, as he represents the SC community. The Nandipet ZPTC, Nara Goud, and Makloor ZPTC, Satish, have also jumped into the race. Congress ZPTC from Sirikonda, Beladari Goverdhan, who is now sailing with the TRS, is also making a determined bid for the chairman's post with the blessings of Mr. Santosh Reddy. But, senior TRS leaders are strongly opposing Mr. Goverdhan's moves.