Kothagudem: The newly created Kothagudem Urban Development Authority (KUDA) has not yet started functioning fully. However, the ruling party leaders and supporters of the local MLA are already vying for the position of chairman.
Leaders from the Communist Party of India (CPI) claim that KUDA was established due to the efforts of Kothagudem MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao. Therefore, they believe that the chairman post should go to someone from their party.
Sources reveal that Congress leader Koneru Satyanarayana Rao, who switched to Congress from the BJP during the last Assembly elections, is also interested in becoming the KUDA chairman.
Both CPI and Congress leaders have been lobbying for a nominated post for a long time. With the formation of KUDA, their hopes have been reignited. Koneru, who is closely associated with Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, the Minister of Revenue and I&PR, is working hard to secure the position.
At the same time, MLA Sambasiva Rao, who is also the CPI state secretary, has been meeting with key political figures, including Minister Srinivas Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, and Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, to ensure that the post goes to a CPI leader.
The CPI district secretary in Kothagudem is also said to be in the running for the chairman post. Sambasiva Rao’s efforts to secure the position for CPI are making Congress hopefuls anxious about their chances.
It is important to note that CPI won the Kothagudem Assembly seat in alliance with Congress. Local political circles are now debating whether Congress will honor its agreement with CPI and give them the chairman post or choose to appoint someone from Congress instead.