Komatireddy sulks after AICC post snub, leadership pacifies

HYDERABAD: Days after being left out of All India Congress Committee's (AICC) Central Election Committee and the State Screening Committees, which are crucial to the party, Bhuvanagiri MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy expressed his disappointment by staying away from party activities for the past few days.

The party's screening committee met at Taj Krishna here on Wednesday to shortlist the Congress ticket aspirants for the upcoming Assembly polls in Telangana. As a senior Congress leader, Komatireddy's absence was conspicuous. When State incharge Manikrao Thackeray inquired into the matter, the party leadership expressed concern that the MP could be miffed as he did not find a place in the core committees.

AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal then stepped in to pacify Komatireddy Venkat Reddy. He spoke to him over on the phone and requested him to attend the meeting. What that effort did not materalise, former MLA Sampathkumar met Komatireddy at his house and pleaded him to attend the meeting. But Komatireddy made it clear that he felt disrespected as a senior leader like him was not appointed to any commitee. Manikrao Thackeray then went to the leader's house and assured Venkat Reddy that his concerns would be addressed.

Meanwhile as per reports, the committee had finalised the selection of candidates at the state level and submitted its report to the party's central election committee in a sealed cover.