In the fast changing political dynamics, the usually reticent city legislator and vice-chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NMDA) Marri Shashidhar Reddy has suddenly become active, triggering speculation that he also joined the race for Chief Minister's post in the imminent Telangana state.
However, it is said in political circles that Shashidhar Reddy conducted the meeting with the Telangana Congress leaders with the "blessings" of the party high command.
The meeting, held in Hyderabad on Sunday, was attended by some ministers and legislators of the region.
"Shashidhar Reddy is the kind of person who does not do any political activity without the explicit consent of the high command. Hence, it is safe to assume that the Delhi bosses wanted him to get active on Telangana front," sources said.
The meeting convened by the senior legislator had decided to seek an increase in the number of Assembly constituencies in the new Telangana state.
Moreover, Shashidhar will lead the delegation of the elected representatives of Congress from Telangana to Delhi to meet the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana, seeking an increase in the number of Assembly seats.
The GoM would be requested to increase the number of Assembly constituencies in Telangana State to 153, by adding 34 more seats. This will lead to unanimity in all 17 Lok Sabha segments having nine Assembly seats each.
The Khairatabad MLA has never been active in the Telangana politics so far. Even at the peak of the Telangana movement, he was content with his duties in Delhi at the National Disaster Management Authority.
However, he now appears to have emerged as a key contender for the CM's post, along with S Jaipal Reddy, Damodar Rajanarasimha, K Jana Reddy, Savre Satyanarayana and D Srinivas.
