Chiranjeevi likely to get Dasaris seat in RS

HYDERABAD: With biennial Rajya Sabha elections round the corner, aspirants to a seat in the Upper House are busy sucking up to the Congress high command. Six seats are due to be vacated on April 2 by retiring members, including four of the Congress: Dasari Narayana Rao, K Keshava Rao, G Sanjiva Reddy, Rashid Alvi (all Cong), M V Mysoora Reddy (TDP) and Syed Aziz Pasha (CPI).Sources say K Chiranjeevi’s travel to the Upper House has more or less been finalised to pave the way for his induction into the Union cabinet.This was a promise made to the former actor when he agreed to merge his party, the Praja Rajyam, in the Congress, and latter party’s high command is said to be willing to brave any dissent against accommodating him in the Union cabinet.Rival claimants to ministerial places are among those trying to leverage the gesture likely to be made to Chiranjeevi.Eluru MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao has already said he has nothing against Chiranjeevi, but the party should not ignore others, namely himself.Retiring elder Dasari Narayana Rao is trying to get another term in the Rajya Sabha, but his plea might not be entertained since Chiranjeevi may be the one getting his seat, thereby setting up a delicious irony: both are Kapu leaders and bitter enemies.But Chiranjeevi’s likely departure to the Rajya Sabha is sure to give rise to another problem.Will the Congress be able to retain the Tirupati Assembly seat he will have to vacate? As regards K Kesava Rao, who has served two terms in the Rajya Sabha, he may be considered for a renomination as a special case.The former PCC chief has caused the party much embarrassment by his rabble-rousing on the Telangana issue, but the party may very well think keeping him busy in Delhi the better of two options.As regards trade unionist G Sanjiva Reddy, there is talk that he would be renominated, but from another state.If that happens, K R Suresh Reddy, who belongs to the same community, may get an opportunity.Similarly, Mohd Ali Shabber is hopeful of a nomination to the seat being vacated by Rashi Alvi.Shabber has rapport with AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad and he is doing the lobbying to bag the seat.Then there is Renuka Chowdary who has the advantage of being in touch with the top leadership in her capacity as spokesperson of the party.Very recently, she invited Azad over to lunch at her residence the last time the gen sec was in Hyderabad.