Hyderabad, June 7 (DC) : June 6: Prominent backward class Congress leader from North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and transport minister, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, 52, was appointed as the new Pradesh Congress Committee chief on Monday night. Sources say that the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, appointed “Botsa” based on party inputs that he would take everyone along and that his manoeuvrability and friendly nature would bring the Congress the much needed support from grass root workers and backward communities.

The appointment, which was announced by Mr Oscar Fernandez, is with immediate effect, duly relieving Mr D. Srinivas who has already completed two terms and was on extension.

Mr Botsa was summoned to New Delhi by state Congress affairs in-charge Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, whom he met on Monday afternoon. Later the two visited Mrs Sonia Gandhi who ratified his appointment. Mr Satyanarayana’s appointment was welcomed by many party leaders including those from Telangana.

The Congress high command’s reasoning has been that the PCC chief should be loyal and sincere to the central leadership and should not blindly follow the Chief Minister. Sources said that this was why Mr Satyanarayana was chosen though the Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, had proposed housing minister, Mr Kanna Laxminarayana’s name, for the job.