Date:18/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/18/stories/2008081852810300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

YSR showers praise on Penumatsa

Correspondent

Regrets not giving Cabinet berth to the senior leader

Chief Minister attends 76th birthday fete of Sativada MLA
Says the party will utilise his services in future

VIZIANAGARAM: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has expressed his regrets for not accommodating Penumatsa Sambasiva Raju, senior Congress leader and MLA from Sathivada constituency, in his Cabinet due to “political compulsions.”

Addressing a largely attended gathering on the sprawling football grounds at Nellimarla, the newly formed Assembly constituency, where Minister for Housing Botcha Satyanarayana arranged a felicitation programme for Mr. Raju on the occasion of the latter’s 76th birthday celebrations, on Sunday, the Chief Minister said that the senior Congress leader, who was elected nine times to the Assembly, must have been honoured with a berth in the Cabinet.

‘Political compulsions’

“But, caste and community factors have played a crucial role. Moreover, there is no vacancy,” he said, and added: “I have decided to send him to the Rajya Sabha after pressure from Mr. Satyanarayana but could not do so for various reasons,” the Chief Minister said. “He has been kept back with a view to utilising his services for the State in future. He is a man to be emulated,” Dr. Reddy felt.

It may be recalled that for the same reason Mr. Raju had not so far accepted the post of Chairman of Regional Development Board. The PCC is now likely to appoint him as DCC president.

Earlier, the Chief Minister felicitated the septuagenarian, offered him cake, presented him a citation and released a souvenir on Mr. Raju’s 50-year stint in politics. Dr. Reddy was all praise for Mr. Raju for remaining non-controversial throughout his political career and kept Congress vote-bank intact in his constituency by implementing the government welfare schemes with dedication.

Ministers Dharmana Prasada Rao, Mr. Satyanarayana, Konathala Ramakrishna, Kanna Lakshmi Narayana, Pilli Subhas Chandra Bose, Galla Aruna Kumari, N. Raghuveera Reddy and Anam Ram Narayana Reddy, Lok Sabha member B. Jhansi Lakshmi and MLAs were present.