Andhra Pradesh

Chandrababu Naidu announces ‘jumbo’ committee

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday announced a 176-member ‘jumbo’ State committee that included the induction of former Minister and his brother-in-law Nandamuri Harikrishna into the Polit Bureau.

Barring the inclusion of Mr. Harikrishna, there were no surprises in the committee that would take the party to the next 2009 Assembly elections. But Mr. Naidu insisted that young blood be infused, with all new 18 joint secretaries being those in the 18-35 age group, and that his promise of 40 per cent tickets to them would be implemented in the next Assembly elections. In an attempt to move closer to the weaker sections, more than adequate weight was accorded to them.

Though the strength of the all-important Polit Bureau was trimmed from 17 to 15, most of the senior leaders were accommodated and caste equations maintained. Three existing members — L. Ramana, K. Balarama Krishnamurthy and K. Sivananda Reddy — were dropped. R. Chandrasekhara Reddy and Kadiam Srihari were inducted into the Polit Bureau as ex-officio members.

The new committee includes 10 vice-presidents, six general secretaries, 10 official spokespersons, 63 secretaries, 26 organising secretaries, 18 joint secretaries and one treasurer. At a press conference, Mr. Naidu described the new body as the ‘best ever team’ with due recognition and consideration being given to experience, social justice and due priority to youth.

Mr. Ramana and Mr. Balarama Krishnamurthy were eased out from the Polit bureau as they were holding Karimnagar and Prakasam district party presidents’ posts. Three general secretaries in the previous committee, Mullapudi Renuka, Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu and Syed Yousuf Ali, were removed but given other posts.

Besides Mr. Patrudu, other senior leaders such as Gutta Sukhender Reddy and Tammineni Sitaram also find their names in the committee though their actions embarrassed the party in the past.

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