ANANTAPUR : The change of reservation of the Zilla Parishad Chairperson's post from the BC general last time to general women category for the forthcoming local body elections has made the political equations, particularly in the ruling party, murky.

The unexpected change has dashed the hopes of many a Congress leader who have been nursing hopes for the hot post. The change of reservation, however, did not have a similar impact on the Opposition TDP, as the party has low morale at the present juncture. The TDP is not in a position to dream to re-capture the Zilla Parishad from the Congress.

Letdown again

Several influential second rung leaders in the Congress, who have a feeling of being let down by the rule of reservation for the last 15 years, are left sobbing once again, blaming it on the reservation. But, most them are still nursing hopes of grabbing the key post by fielding their better halves, so that they could run the show from behind the screen.

Leaders like J.C. Prabhakar Reddy, brother of Panchayat Raj Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy, who is currently holding the post of Vice-Chairperson of Tadipatri Municipality as the civic Chairperson's post was reserved for BCs last year, District Congress Committee president P. Venugopal Reddy, who has been eyeing an MLC seat, were tipped to be the front runners had they been eligible for the key post.

Now, women from such influential families have joined the race in place of their men. Widow of slain TDP leader K. Suryapratap Reddy, Kalavathi, whose family had rejoined the Congress on Monday, could also be a dark horse in the race.

On the other hand, the list of aspirants in the TDP has also grown quite long irrespective of the party's chances.

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