Anxious TRS leaders who have lost out on getting nominated posts in the government are now frequenting the party office at least to remain in the spotlight to earn party posts.
Now that chairmen of most of the corporations were appointed, the leaders have set their sights on getting into the State committee which is expected to be broad-based with over 40 members. Of course, middle-rung leaders have no hope of getting into the politburo as Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had already indicated that it would be small in size, preferably with six members.
The TRS had jumbo a politburo of 24 members which went up to 29 and a State committee with nearly 120 members until they were disbanded much before elections in 2014. It effectively meant that the party affairs had been handled solely by Mr. Rao ever since the TRS formed the government. And, the amendment to the party constitution at the last plenary of TRS in April extending the term of the president from two to four years gave Mr. Rao liberty to act slow.
He has, however, appointed presidents to student, youth, women, SC, BC and labour cells of the TRS though the much-sought-after posts in the politburo and State committee were elusive to aspirants. Some hope for the aspirants was that Mr. Rao was said to have discussed with his colleagues, during one of his recent visits to New Delhi, constitution of the politburo and State committees. It was therefore expected that the panels would soon be declared. Mr. Rao has already dashed the hopes of leaders who wanted to become district party presidents by announcing that there would only be Assembly constituency in-charges hereafter. The in-charges, mostly MLAs, would head constituency-level committees consisting of mandal parishad presidents, zilla parishad territorial constituency members and party mandal presidents. Instead of district presidents, he promised two coordinators for each of the 31 districts. Their role would be minimal and representative-type, sources said.
They said that the long wait of aspirants for party posts had dampened their spirits to the extent of losing hope. But, it was likely that Mr. Rao would speed up steps now as this was an auspicious phase of the Telugu calender year.
