In a surprise decision, the Congress Central leadership on Sunday announced new faces for the Rajya Sabha, replacing all the four retiring veterans. As expected, former PR chief K. Chiranjeevi is the new Congress face in the Rajya Sabha. AICC spokesperson Renuka Chowdary, who lost the Lok Sabha elections last time, and veteran leader from Nalgonda district Palvai Govardhan Reddy, who lost in the 2009 general elections, were the other RS nominees.
Continuing its tradition of picking up a candidate from outside the state due to political exigencies, AICC general secretary B.K. Hari Prasad has been selected for the fourth seat. However, it is learnt that the party leadership is having a rethink over Mr Prasad's candidature and may name Backward Class leader from Warangal, Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar. Mr Bhaskar, a former journalist and a PCC general secretary was not appointed the State Information Commissioner after Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu objected to his candidature recently.
However there was no official announcement regarding Mr Bhaskar till late in the night. Former PCC chief K. Kesava Rao, a known Telangana protagonist, was not considered for a second term following reports of his defamatory comments made against party central leadership during the Telangana agitation. The nominees will file their papers on Monday, the last day.