Date:12/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/12/stories/2005051208030400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Village sarpanch is Congress candidate

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The impasse in the Congress over its Penukonda Assembly byelection candidate ended on Wednesday with K. Sriramulu, sarpanch of Guntur village in Penukonda segment, emerging as the consensus candidate.

This was announced by Gangula Bhanumathi, Congress candidate in the last elections, and S. Gangadhar, former MP, at a press conference after meeting the APCC president K. Keshava Rao, and the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

The names of a few others, including two former police officers, were considered but the choice was left to Ms. Bhanumathi and Mr. Gangadhar. After hectic consultations, the two emerged to declare support to Mr. Sriramulu, and urged the PCC to forward the name to the AICC for clearance.

Talking to reporters later, Ms. Bhanumathi claimed that she had never been an aspirant and would work for the victory of the candidate chosen by the party. She said even her followers would work for the victory of the consensus candidate and there were no differences with anyone in this regard. Later, the APCC president hailed her decision, and said her sacrifice would ensure the victory of the candidate.