The last hope of Congressmen, eager for being chosen for the nominated posts in government-run organisations, appears to have been dashed following a three-month long ‘Calendar of events’ announced by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday.
The Panchayat Raj elections and series of welfare programmes lined up during the new few months, most probably till August end, makes it impossible for filling these vacancies.
Congress leaders, who had pinned hopes that the nominated posts would be filled at least after the budget session are a disappointed lot. It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had promised at the State-level Congress convention held on December 16 at Lal Bahadur Stadium that all the vacancies would be filled by Sankranti.
A senior PCC functionary said once the party gets into the election mode, there is little chance of getting the nod for filling up the vacancies. He expressed fears that unless the cadres are rewarded, they may not wholeheartedly plunge into the election work. He did not rule out disgruntled elements defecting to other party also.
As many as 38 state-run corporations and 300 director’s post have to be filled up. Some of the key corporations and commissions lying vacant are AP Women Corporation, SC and Minorities Commission.
Except for isolated appointments to certain posts, Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy and former Chief Minister K. Rosaiah had not made any attempt to fill up the vacancies. The last time major exercise was taken up was by late Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy in 2004 and 2006.
After Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy took over, he got a second term for TTD chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju and appointment of Sitaramaraju, a Congress leader as the member of AP Public Service Commission. The other notable appointment was that of N. Tulasi Reddy, PCC spokesperson as the chairman of 20-point programme.
