HYDERABAD: Clarifying that the party’s decision to field D Srinivas to contest the Legislative Council seat is not indicative of an imminent change of the chief minister, PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana has said: “DS is not the only leader in the race for the chief minister’s post”.Talking with reporter here on Monday, he said DS was nominated as he had served as PCC chief for two terms and helped the Congress come to power.“His commitment to the party and his experience have been taken into consideration while selecting him,” he said.The PCC chief also clarified that there was no link between the Telangana movement and the decision to field DS, a Telangana leader from Nizamabad, in the election.“The Council by-election is not linked to the chief minister’s post or the Telangana movement,” he asserted.Botcha sought to assuage the ruffled feelings of those who were in the race for the Congress ticket to contest the Legislative Council seat, which was vacated by former chief minister K Rosaiah after his appointment as Tamil Nadu governor, by assuring that the party would consider them for important posts in future.There were quite a few aspirants to the seat but the party decided on the former PCC president since he is a prominent Telangana leader and his services might be required to keep the flock of Telangana leaders in tact if the Centre’ decision goes against the demand for formation of Telangana state.Satyanarayana said that those who could not make it to the Council need not lose their heart as the party would surely reward them in an appropriate manner.To a question, Satyanarayana said that Srinivas’ name was finalised keeping in view his experience as PCC president during two terms and as minister.The selection of Srinivas had no bearing on the Telangana issue, he added.He said in reply to another question that he would talk to the Congress leaders who shared a dais in Kurnool recently with leaders of other political parties to espouse the Samaikyandhra cause.“I want them not to participate in such events where leaders of other parties are taking part since others will have vested interests.If Congress leaders want to espouse any cause, they are free to do it if it reflects people’s aspirations,” he said, adding that his suggestion to them to keep away from such meetings was not an instruction but a friendly advice.“There is no need for taking any action against them in this regard,’’ he clarified.On Jagan Mohan Reddy talking of poverty, the PCC chief wondered how those enjoying huge palaces could know what poverty was.``Jagan cannot understand poverty.Those born rich can assess property but not poverty.However extensively he may tour the state, Jagan cannot understand people’s poverty.There might have been a defect in the way he was brought up,” Botcha said and regretted that he had signed the memorandum that requested the party high command to nominate Jagan as chief minister soon after YSR’s death.Asked whether YSR had failed to bring up his son Jagan in the right manner, Botcha changed tack and said the environment in which Jagan lived was not conducive to understanding poverty.He said he had the opportunity to observe West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee closely during his recent visit to Delhi.“She lives like an ordinary woman and uses only Maruti Zen car for commuting.’’ On rumours of Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into politics, Botcha said he would welcome it and claimed that the Gandhi family never aspired to big posts.
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