Rama Krishna Sangem
Congress high command better not delay the selection of its legislature party (CLP) leader in Telangana any further. We all know, the CLP leader will become the new CM as the party secured full majority of 65 MLAs (including one CPI ally) out of the total 119. As of now, the swearing in of the new CM would take place on December 7, Thursday. Any further delay would send bad signals for the party.
Results were announced on December 3, Sunday and a meeting of newly elected MLAs was held in Hyderabad on December 4, Monday morning. Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shiva Kumar has been camping here for the last three days to see installation of a Congress government smoothly. On Monday CLP meeting too, he talked to all the MLAs and gathered their opinion on the new CM. Their views were sent to the party high command in Delhi immediately.
As per inside information, PCC president Revanth Reddy got two thirds of members support – around 45- 50 and four or five MLAs said they would abide by anyone decided by the high command. Some seniors like Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy too are understood to have indicated their wish for the top post. But, none of them enjoyed the support like Revanth from other MLAs.
Decisions in Delhi
One major image problem of Congress is that whoever win the elections or enjoys the support of the majority MLAs, the final decision would be taken only in Delhi – where the high command sits. Of course, as a national party, Congress too, like BJP will have to select the leader at the national level only. But, the process can be simplified or decentralised, giving an impression that the choice was made at the state level.
Precisely this is the charge regional parties – earlier TDP and now BRS – level against Congress. That their high command lies in Delhi while that their’s is with the people – at the state level. We have seen umpteen rounds of talks and meeting held with regard to selection of Karnataka CM in May this year. Even after Siddaramaiah got a majority of MLAs vote, it took a whole one week for the party to install a new government in Bangalore.
This time, better the party leaders – Sonia, Rahul and Kharge – avoid this delayed process of final selection of CM. Already, the possible dates of CM’s swearing in was announced or changed twice – December 9 and then 6. Now, it is changed to December 7. The high command should see to it that this date is sealed. If they leave the impression that many permutations and combinations are calculated, it would further confuse the party leaders and cadre.
