While a section of the ruling party is in upbeat mood over continued patronage to leaders of the district, the first generation leaders who still wait for their turn sulked over the recent nominations to Rajya Sabha.
Many old-timers rue that they had to lobby for the posts while those who joined later were able to get past them. One youth leader, who is the organising secretary of the district unit said he has been going from pillar to post to get a suitable post within the party that is due to announce the new district committee.
Non-committal attitude
“I worked for the victory of the MPs and MLAs in many elections and now I have to beg them for the post. I approached top leaders who are non-committal now,” he told speaking to The Hindu .
Jannu Jacharaiah and Medipalli Shobhan, who were seniors in CPI(M), had joined the TRS since its inception and have been waiting for a chance to contest elections or secure a nominated post.
Mr. Jacharaiah, who was a mass leader mobilising workers of various industries, worked as National Minimum Wages Board chairman for a brief period but has been aspiring for ticket to Assembly or Parliament.
Senior advocate Gudimalla Ravi Kumar was another leader who considers himself. He was supposed to get Parliament ticket in the by-election. However Chief Minister KCR assured him some other suitable post later. He was made chairman of Child Rights Commission, but that too is pending due to a court case.
Similarly, Takkelapalli Ravinder Rao, who headed the party unit for a long time and successfully led the separate Telangana movement, has been waiting for his chance to become an MLC, but in vain.
‘Feel sidelined’
A senior functionary said those who were with the party since 2004 or even before that, have been relegated to the background, while those who joined recently were able to get top posts.
“Many senior leaders from TDP had joined TRS and they preferred to accommodate their long time supporters who had followed them to TRS. But within the party, there is no such patronage from our leaders who too feel sidelined,” he said.
