Uttam Kumar Reddy to shave, in race for CM post, Bhatti, Komatireddy also throw hat into ring

HYDERABAD: Even as the Congress is getting ready to celebrate its victory and form the Government after a decade-long BRS rule in the State, the party still has to grapple with the crucial decision of selecting a Chief Minister candidate for the satisfaction of different groups of the Congress.

Just as the results were pouring in and fans of Revanth Reddy reached out in large numbers at his CBI colony residence, Uttam Kumar Reddy in a live TV interview fired the first salvo that the Congress high command would decide the next CM candidate, making no mention of Revanth Reddy. He was probably making a statement that he was still in the race and the high command must consider his application before making a decision.

Later, speaking to media at the Taj Krishna Hotel, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that he would shave first as his wish had been fulfilled. “Congress is coming to power in Telangana. The decision of who will be the Chief Minister is in the hands of the Congress high command,” he said. However, he feigned innocence about keeping the Congress candidates at the so-called camp in the Taj Krishna Hotel. “I don’t think it’s a bad idea to keep the flock together,” he added.

Meanwhile, another Congress leader, a strong contender for the CM’s post, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka expressed interest in taking the mantle of Chief Minister. When asked whether he was in the race, he said that he would take responsibility if he was asked to do so. “Gone were the days of ‘Dorala Rajyam”, now it’s the people’s Government in Telangana,” he said.

Without hiding his intentions, Bhatti Vikramarka who did a padayatra of 1,365 km in Telangana calling for a change, said that he would not mind continuing as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader if the newly elected MLAs elect him as their leader.

Another senior Congress leader, Komatireddy Venkatreddy said in an interview a day before the counting of votes, that he could be the Chief Minister. “I don’t ask anything from my side. But I won’t say no if they (high command) offered me a position,” he said, replying to a question about whether he was in the race. He made it clear that the CM post meant nothing to him compared to the welfare of the people of Telangana.

Meanwhile, speculation was ripe on the choice of the high command. While it was reported that Revanth Reddy would be made CM with Bhatti Vikramarka and Seethakka as his deputies and Revanth as TPCC chief and Bhatti, a Dalit as Chief Minister of Telangana, which had been a demand of the Grand Old Party when K Chandrashekar Rao was the Chief Minister.

Political analysts started giving the example of Karnataka where the party took time to decide on its CM’s candidate after a massive victory in that State. In the CM race were senior leaders DK Shivakumar, who was the Karnataka Congress' president, and Siddaramaiah, former chief minister and leader of the opposition. The CLP met and handed over the decision to AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge. He in turn left the decision in the hands of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Congress then argued that even the BJP declared its chief ministers in Uttar Pradesh and Assam several days after winning the polls. Congress pointed out that Yogi Adityanath was appointed CM eight days after winning elections in 2017 and Himanta Biswas became Assam CM seven days after the 2021 elections.