Congress appoints B Mahesh Kumar Goud as new TPCC chief

New Delhi/ Hyderabad: The Congress on Friday appointed B Mahesh Kumar Goud as president of its Telangana unit, replacing A Revanth Reddy. Mahesh Kumar Goud in a statement to press said, "I will work as a link between party and government. I will be available for all the Congress party activities in Telangana state."

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge appointed Goud as president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect, a statement issued by AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said.

The party appreciates the contributions of the outgoing PCC president A Revanth Reddy.

The appointment comes days after Congress president Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held a meeting with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu and discussed organizational changes in the state.

Though there had been no official word on the meeting's agenda, it was understood that deliberations were held about the selection of a new Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president.

Reddy had remained president of the Congress in Telangana even after becoming chief minister at the end of last year.

Hailing from Nizamabad district, Mahesh Kumar Goud began his political career with the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and has been a member of the Congress Party for more than three decades.

AICC secretary SA Sampath Kumar, Mahabubabad MP and former Union Minister Porike Balaram Naik, and former MP Madhu Yaskhi Goud were among the notable leaders stood in the race for the TPCC leadership position.

Given that the Deputy Chief Minister is a member of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and the Chief Minister is a member of the Reddy community, Goud's appointment ultimately fits with the Congress Party's plan to balance the caste system in the state.

Goud is from BC community

G Niranjan, senior vice -president of TPCC says, "Appointment of Mahesh Kumar Goud is good for the Congress party. Goud belongs to backward communities and as president of PCC, the Congress party has shown it's commitment to backward classes.

Black belt

Goud was awarded black belt 6th dan in 2006. He is a sports buff and has also held the office of president Telangana Sports Karate Association.

Social and political background

* President of NSUI from Nizamabad district from 1986 to 1990

* President of united state of Andhra Pradesh of NSUI from 1990-1998

* Secretary of Indian Youth Congress from 1998-2000

* From 2000 onwards, Goud was politically active as spokesperson, general secretary and president of different departments.

Congress took time to appoint the president of TPCC as they wanted that the chief minister Revanth Reddy and the new president of TPCC must work in tandem with each other. Congress party which came to power in Telangana after 10 years wanted a ground worker and also a strong PCC chief who could counter the growing attacks from Bharat Rashtra Samithi and also Bharatiya Janta Party.

Telangana Congress party activity

With chief minister Revanth Reddy engaged in the administration of the state, Congress party affairs took a back seat. Senior Congress leaders urged New Delhi to appoint a president soon so that the party activity in districts and the engaging of the cadre can be carried out according to the requirements. With Panchayat elections, round the corner, cadre in districts had to be strong and also active, explained party sources in Telangana.