Hyderabad: The Congress high command is likely to appoint a new in-charge for the Telangana Congress as incumbent, Meenakshi Natarajan, is set to travel abroad for higher studies for nearly 10 months.With her prolonged absence coinciding with the upcoming local body elections for Greater Hyderabad, Malkajgiri, Cyberabad, Khammam and Greater Warangal, and other key political developments in Telangana including Konda Surekha being dropped from the cabinet, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has reportedly initiated the process of selecting a senior leader to oversee the party’s affairs in the state. An announcement is expected shortly, sources said.Meenakshi took over as Telangana Congress in-charge on Feb 14, 2025, succeeding Deepa Das Munsi. Before her proposed departure, she is understood to have submitted a ground-level report to the party high command covering several organisational and political issues, including the selection of candidates for nominated posts, the probable list of candidates for the ensuing Graduate MLC elections.A senior AICC leader said the AICC is considering several senior leaders for the post, with former Union minister and senior Congress leader Mukul Wasnik and Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil‘s names reportedly being discussed in the Congress circles as among those in the race.However, no one knows who will replace Meenakshi. “But everyone in the party circles is aware that a new AICC in-charge for Telangana is all set to come as Meenakshi will be leaving abroad for high studies soon. The AICC wants some leader who can keep the flock together, work out greater coordination between the party and the govt, ensure that govt’s achievements are taken effectively to the doorsteps of the people and prepare the party for local body, assembly and parliament elections,” a senior TPCC leader told TOI.Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi are expected to take a final decision on the new Telangana in-charge, with an official announcement likely soon, a senior AICC leader said.The Telangana Congress is at a crucial juncture with working presidents likely to be appointed soon and various nominated chairperson posts for corporation to be filled up. Also, there are three vacancies in the state cabinet now after Konda Surekha was dropped and aspirants are lobbying in Delhi to speed up cabinet expansion.
