RS nominations see many surprises

The Rajya Sabha nominations have seen a couple of surprises from the ruling Congress party and its ally CPI(M) besides the sulking Telugu Desam Party.

With regard to the Congress list of nominees, the names of Jairam Ramesh, V Hanmanth Rao, industrialist Girish Sanghi and J D Seelam were doing the rounds in media reports.

But the name of Rashid Alvi from Uttar Pradesh came as a surprise to many in the state, though that particular nomination has only a two -year tenure.

It is said that Guntur Congress leader and former minister Mohammed Johny lost his chances of Rajya Sabha nomination only on account of this development. This particular seat was vacant with the death of Congress Rajya Sabha member K M Khan.

J D Seelam, a Karnataka cadre IAS officer who resigned from civil service to contest from Bapatla parliamentary constituency on the Congress ticket in the 1999 elections, was later made AICC secretary. He belongs to the scheduled caste.

This fact has brighten his chances since Telangana scheduled caste MP Nandi Yellaiah's term was over. It has been the practice of the Congress party that whenever half-a-dozen vacancies are available, it would certainly include one scheduled caste leader in the list.

His nomination to the Rajya Sabha by the Congress high command was expected along with V Hanumantha Rao, who is a backward caste leader from Telangana.

Jairam Ramesh, who had angered Y S Rajasekhara Reddy when he was the opposition leader with his occasional praises of Naidu's policies, had come to Hyderabad to meet him recently. He is also close to the Prime Minister, besides having connections with international financial institutions, which will suit YS Rajasekhara Reddy's immediate interests.

Girish Sanghi, whose news paper had solidly stood behind the Congress party during the recent elections, was the front runner for the Rajya Sabha nomination ever since it came to power in the state.

Telugu Desam nominee C Ramachandraiah's selection was another surprise as several other leaders in the party had bitterly lobbied for the lone post.

Another surprise is from the CPI(M). First the state party proposed the name of Sitaram Yechuri which was rejected by its Central leadership.

CPI(M) state committee secretary B V Raghavulu's name too figured in the media speculations. Party sources say that Rahavulu's name, who was known for his personal dislike for such posts, has never figured in discussions.

Ultimately, P Madhu, state party secretariat member was chosen by the party on Tuesday night, citing his seniority among the younger generation in the party.