Renuka Emergence Baffles Andhra Senior Congressmen
posted on Mar 26, 2012 @ 4:37PM
The recent emergence Renuka Choudhary as Rajya Sabha member has baffled some senior congressmen from andhra region. These seniors from andhra didn't oppose when she was nominated for RS. The heartburn started with the talk that Renuka is trying for cabinet berth at the Centre under Telangana quota.
What is worrying the senior in the party is - already Jaipal Reddy is continuing as central minister from Telangana and Renuka is considered to be more close to the powers that be in the party. Moreover, she had been a minister of state for Health and Family Welfare during 1997-98 and later minister of state Women & Child Welfare (Independent Charge) between 2006-2009. Even though she had been defeated in 2009 MP elections by over 1.5 lakh votes, she still enjoys a good rapport with the party high command. There is no doubt that the party high command is giving her more preference than the seniors in waiting.
Of cource, Renuka Choudhary too has some questionable blemishes. In 1993 a case has been registered against her in Delhi for assaulting a traffic cop. In 2000, she faced severe criticism for accepting a 1.5 crore worth of diamond ring as gift from a jeweller Hasan Ali, who later turned out to be an 8000 billions scamster. After getting defeated in 2009, she didn't vacate her official residence in the national capital, in spite of several notices from the Speaker. In spite of such background, she is hopeful of getting a cabinet post.
According to reliable sources, senior leaders from coastal andhra like Kavuri Sambasiva Rao and Rayapati Sambasiva Rao are apprehensive that Renuka may clinch the chance because of her closeness to party president Sonia Gandhi. If this happens, both Kavuri nad Rayapati would be the losers, since they are the ones who clinged sincerely to the party so long with the hope that they will get cabinet posts someday.