Congress Rajya Sabha member Dr K V P Ramachandra Rao is known for `behind the screen’ operations. If the speculations spreading around Congress circles are true, for the first time he is likely to be brought for a `on the screen’ operation.
As a loyal associate of former chief minister YS Rajasekhera Reddy he had functioned as a `de facto chief minister’ during his regime. Even after demise of Reddy, he has been holding influence in the political arena across party lines.
Realising his `manipulative skills’, the party high command is reportedly considering him to give charge of party affairs in the state. As the present Andhra Pradesh Congress President N Raghuveera Reddy’s three-year term is about to complete, party sources felt that he would be replaced by Rao. As the party need to prepare for 2019 polls, many in the party felt he would be best bet for strategic moves during polls.
For the first time in his political life, Rao fought from the front by moving a private member bill in the Rajya Sabha on the issue of Special Statue to the state. This bill makes the ruling BJP `defensive’ with almost all political parties, even BJP’s allies were forced to came forward in support of the bill.
This has also roused `sentiment’ among people of the state, which is likely to be major challenge for TDP in 2019 polls. However, Congress insiders felt that the party failed in make use of the hype created by the bill to reach the people.
Though Raghuveera Reddy is succeeding in keeping the party flag in the state by continuously taking up agitations on one or other issue, many felt they are remaining as `media exercises’ and failing to influence people.
Raghuveera Reddy’s failure in checking desertions of leaders from the party, besides cultivating rapport with other opposition parties for a united action against TDP, are said to be main concerns of the party high-command. The main advantage of KVR would be his skills to raise resources and capabilities of building bridges with other political parties, particularly YSRCP.
