There is a lack of consensus within the Congress regarding the next Chief Minister of Telangana, according to sources revealed to media on Monday afternoon, 24 hours after the party secured victory over K Chandrasekhar Rao's BRS.
Following the confirmation of Congress' triumph, Revanth Reddy, the state unit chief credited with orchestrating the success, emerged as a likely candidate for the top post. However, the 54-year-old, a former member of the BRS and BJP's youth wing, has critics within the party, causing concerns over his potential appointment.
While some sources suggest that Revanth Reddy is the first choice, others indicate that the swearing-in ceremony, initially planned for the evening, has been postponed until the decision on the Chief Minister is finalized.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to announce the name after consulting with the party's election observers, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who are scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the newly-elected MLAs was held in Hyderabad, where a resolution was passed, authorizing Mr. Kharge to select the new Chief Minister.
Other potential candidates for the top job include Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, a Dalit leader who played a significant role in the campaign, and Uttam Kumar Reddy, a seven-time MLA and former Air Force pilot.
The Congress, facing defeats in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, found consolation in Telangana, securing 64 seats, four above the majority mark.
The BRS, which had swept the state in 2018 with 88 seats, managed only 39 this time. The BJP, with eight seats from the 111 it contested, showed improvement compared to 2018, also witnessing an increase in vote share from 6.98% to nearly 14%.
