Two Rajya Sabha vacancies trigger a new rift between loyal and turncoat leaders in the Congress

The two Rajya Sabha vacancies from Telangana have turned into a new flashpoint between loyal and turncoat leaders, who are aspiring for probable nominations. This apart, the vacancies have also triggered caste-based discussions in Gandhi Bhavan Hyderabad.

The term of Bharat Rashtra Samithi Rajya Sabha member KR Suresh Reddy and Abhishek Manu Singhvi will conclude in April. Among the aspirants, former MP V Hanumantha Rao, former MP Madhu Yaskhi Goud, Harakara Venugopal, Government Advisor Vem Narender Reddy and others are considered to be front



runners.

Amid this, there is a strong verbal confrontation among leaders in Gandhi Bhavan over the nominations. A strong pitch is being made by a section of leaders that loyal leaders, who have been serving the party, should be accorded priority. On the contrary, there is a buzz that a senior leader, who had been to New Delhi last week, was favouring the nomination of Vem Narender Reddy and retired judge B Sudarshan Reddy. However, this has not gone down well with a section of leaders and has triggered an ‘original’ versus turncoat duel.