The Congress high-command has signaled a clear message with the recent appointments of District Congress Committee (DCC) and Municipal Corporation presidents: sincere and long-serving party activists are being prioritized. Despite placing considerable weight on maintaining caste balance with over 42 percent representation for Backward Classes (BCs) in the list the AICC leadership primarily selected committed activists who have worked for the party for the last two to three decades.
A Focus on Veteran Activists
In Khammam, the high-command’s strategy was clearly visible. Noothi Satyanarayana (from the BC community) and Deepak Chowdary were appointed as the Khammam DCC and Khammam Municipal Corporation presidents, respectively, acknowledging their three decades of dedicated service.
Deepak Chowdary succeeded Javed Mahammad, an activist known for single-handedly organizing hundreds of agitations against the BRS government. Mahammad notably championed the cause of skilled migrant workers in Khammam, fighting for the issuance of identity cards to prevent police harassment upon their return home. Noothi Satyanarayana’s past record is marked by years of selfless work for the party, often without seeking any post in return.
The new list includes several other veteran leaders with over 20 years of experience: Raje Thakur (Peddapalli), Kailash Neta (Nalgonda), Devi Prasanna (Bhadradri-Kothagudem), B Ilaiah (Bhongir), Chikkudu Vamsi Krishna (Nagar Kurnool), Ayub (Warangal), Sivasena Reddy (Vanaparthy), Medipalli Satyam (Karimnagar),
Balancing Caste, Ministers’ Recommendations, and New MLAs
While the High Command respected some recommendations from Ministers, the ultimate selections were based on commitment to the party. Furthermore, the party also utilized this opportunity to give importance to newly elected MLAs, integrating them into the organizational structure after a thorough background study. Approximately five MLAs were given DCC posts.
Vedama Bujju, the newly elected MLA from Khanapur (ST) in the 2023 elections and a prominent social worker, was appointed as the Nirmal DCC president.The party meticulously maintained caste and community balance across the appointments:
Community | Number of Posts
- Backward Classes | Total: 13 (Padmasali: 3, Munnur Kapu: 5, Mudiraj: 2, Gouda: 2, Others-1)
- Scheduled Tribes (ST) | Total: 6 (Lambada: 4, Gondu: 2)
- Scheduled Castes (SC) | Total: 5 (Madiga: 3, Mala: 2)
- Minority | Total: 1 (Christian: 1)
- Forward Castes | Total: 7 (Reddy: 6, Kamma: 1)
Five DCC president posts were given to women, ensuring gender representation. Significantly, most of the new DCC presidents are below sixty years of age, injecting youthful energy into the party’s organizational structure.
Editor, Prime Post
Ravindra Seshu Amaravadi, is a senior journalist with 38 years of experience in Telugu, English news papers and electronic media. He worked in Udayam as a sub-editor and reporter. Later, he was associated with Andhra Pradesh Times, Gemini news, Deccan Chronicle, HMTV and The Hans India. Earlier, he was involved in the research work of All India Kisan Sabha on suicides of cotton farmers. In Deccan Chronicle, he exposed the problems of subabul and chilli farmers and malpractices that took place in various government departments.
