Corporation Chairmen on edge as two-year tenure draws to a close

MAHESH AVADHUTHA I hyderabad

With the two year tenure of chairpersons heading 35 state run corporations in Telangana drawing to a close over the next few days, uncertainty prevails over whether the incumbents will be given another term or replaced with new faces.

While many of the chairpersons are hoping for a two year extension, the Congress leadership has remained tight lipped, fuelling intense speculation within party circles. According to party sources, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has already held consultations with senior leaders, but a final decision is yet to be announced.

The Congress government had appointed chairpersons for 35 corporations in July 2024, although the appointment orders were originally issued on March 15, 2024 for a fixed tenure of two years. The announcements were delayed because of the Lok Sabha elections, and the appointments were eventually made public on July 8, 2024. Most of the chairpersons assumed office within days of the announcement and are now nearing the completion of their tenure.

A senior corporation chairman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the file relating to the future of the corporation heads is currently with the Chief Minister, who will take the final call.

According to party insiders, senior Congress leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President Mahesh Kumar Goud and AICC Telangana in charge Meenakshi Natarajan held discussions last month on the issue. A report based on those deliberations was reportedly submitted to the Chief Minister.

Sources say three major factors are influencing the government's decision. The first is the state's financial situation. With the government under pressure to manage its finances, there is reluctance to create additional expenditure. Continuing or appointing corporation chairpersons involves salaries, staff expenses and operational funding for the corporations, making the financial implications a key consideration.

The second factor is performance. While some chairpersons are said to have actively pursued developmental initiatives, remained visible on the ground and effectively discharged their responsibilities, others reportedly failed to make a significant impact. Party think tank is understood to be evaluating whether high performers deserve another term while replacing those whose performance fell short of expectations.

The third and perhaps most politically significant factor is the Congress party's long term electoral strategy. With the next Assembly elections roughly two and a half years away, the leadership is believed to be considering appointing Congress constituency in charges from assembly seats currently represented by opposition MLAs.

Party leaders believe that holding the post of corporation chairman provides greater public visibility, official protocol and regular interaction with government departments and local officials. This could strengthen the political standing of constituency in charges, helping them build stronger grassroots connections ahead of the next Assembly elections and positioning them as stronger challengers to sitting MLAs from rival parties.

At the same time, some existing chairpersons remain hopeful of retaining their posts, citing their performance over the past two years. One chairman not from this list, whose tenure concludes in September, said he was confident that his work would be taken into account if the government decides to grant extensions.

If no decision is taken before the current term expires, the thirty odd corporations may temporarily function without chairpersons until the government finalises its strategy. Whether the Congress opts for continuity, rewards performance or uses the opportunity for a wider political reshuffle will signal how it intends to balance governance with electoral preparation in the run up to the next Assembly polls.

Extension or Exit?

Among those completing their tenure are S. Anvesh Reddy (Telangana State Seeds Development Corporation Limited), Kasula Bala Raju (Telangana State Agro Industries Development Corporation Limited), Janga Raghav Reddy (Telangana State Co operative Oil Seeds Growers Federation Limited), Manala Mohan Reddy (Telangana State Co operative Union Limited), Rayala Nageshwara Rao (Telangana State Warehousing Corporation Limited), Gyaneshwar Mudiraj (State Mudiraj Co operative Societies Corporation Limited) and Mettu Sai Kumar (State Fisheries Co operative Societies Federation Limited).

Others whose tenure is ending include MD Riyaz (State Grandhalaya Parishad), Podem Veeraiah (State Forest Development Corporation), Kalva Sujatha (Arya Vaishya Corporation), R. Gurunath Reddy (State Police Housing Development Corporation), N. Giridhar Reddy (SETWIN), Janak Prasad (State Minimum Wages Advisory Board) and M. Vijaya Babu (State Irrigation Development Corporation).

The list also includes Naidu Satyanarayana (Handicrafts Development Corporation), Anil Eravath (Mineral Development Corporation), T. Nirmala Jaggareddy (Industrial Infrastructure Corporation), Aitha Prakash Reddy (Trade Promotion Corporation), Manne Sateesh Kumar (Technology Services Development Corporation), Challa Narasimha Reddy (Urban Finance Infrastructure Development Corporation), K. Narender Reddy (Satavahana Urban Development Authority), E. Venkatrami Reddy (Kakatiya Urban Development Authority), Ramreddy Malreddy (Road Development Corporation), Patel Ramesh Reddy (Tourism Development Corporation),

MA Faheem (Telangana Foods), Bandru Shoba Rani (Women's Co operative Development Corporation), M. Veeraiah (Vikalangula Co operative Development Corporation), K. Shiva Sena Reddy (Sports Authority of Telangana), Alekhya Punjala (Telangana Sangeetha Nataka Academy), N. Preetham (Scheduled Caste Co operative Development Corporation), Nuthi Srikanth (BC Co operative Finance Corporation), Bellaiah Nayak (Scheduled Tribes Co operative Finance Development Corporation), Kotnaka Thirupathi (Girijan Co operative Finance Development Corporation) and Jeripeti Jaipal (Most Backward Classes Development Corporation).