Chiranjeevi likely to be elected to Rajya Sabha

Megastar Chiranjeevi is likely to get elevated soon to the Rajya Sabha from a member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

His candidature is almost certain for one of the four seats that the ruling Congress can win in the biennial elections to the Upper House of Parliament from the state, slated for March 30.

The Congress, as part of his Praja Rajyam Party's merger deal last year, promised to induct Chiranjeevi into the Union Cabinet by nominating him to the Rajya Sabha. Six seats will fall vacant in April with the retirement of four Congress members and one each of Communist Party of India and Telugu Desam Party.

Going by the current strength in the assembly, the Congress can win four and the TDP two seats. There is intense competition in the Congress for the other three seats with  some heavyweights lobbying hard for a chance.

Former Union minister Dasari Narayana Rao, who is among the four retiring members, is seeking a re-election.

Renuka Chowdary, former Union minister and currently official spokesperson of the Congress, is using her clout in New Delhi to make it to the Rajya Sabha while Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is said to be pushing the case of industrialist G V Krishna Reddy, head of GVK group.

Telangana protagonist K Keshava Rao, who too will retire in April, is desperately trying for a second term. He has been maintaining a tacit silence of late on the statehood issue to remain in the good books of the party high command.

The known Telangana supporters in the party as well as the chief minister are said to be opposing Keshava Rao's re-nomination.

KK, as he is called, met the chief minister two days ago to plead with him to not spoil his chances.

Uttar Pradesh leader Rashid Alvi, who made it to the RS from Andhra Pradesh in 2006, is banking on his connections with the high command for re-nomination, while Indian National Trade Union Congress head G Sanjeeva Reddy is also vying for an extended stint.

Former state minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir is hoping to secure a berth under the minority quota but Alvi may mar his chances, Congress leaders feel.

"Since Chiranjeevi's nomination is certain, Dasari may not stand a chance as both belong to the same community. If GVK gets the nod, Sanjeeva Reddy will have to be left out and
if Renuka succeeds in impressing the high command, KK will lose," a top Pradesh Congress Comiitee leader said.

As Renuka too belongs to the Telangana region, her nomination should not affect the regional balance, the leader noted.

In the TDP, retiring member M V Mysura Reddy hopes to get a second chance even as there are other top contenders like former Union minister K Yerran Naidu, former state ministers Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and T Devender Goud, along with a host of others for the two seats the party can secure.

The TDP may nominate one candidate each from Andhra-Rayalaseema and Telangana regions to strike a balance, party sources say.

In that event, Devender Goud stands a better chance over the others while Mysura's re-nomination looks probable, the sources added.