Former Kothagudem MLA and journalist K. Sambasiva Rao was elected State secretary of CPI at the party’s third conference which concluded late on Wednesday night.
He was elected by voting among council members because neither he nor another MLA Palla Venkat Reddy were unrelenting in their demand to hold the post. It led to heated discussions among members till midnight when it was finally decided to go for voting. Mr. Sambasiva Rao polled 59 votes to 45 by Mr. Reddy.
Mr. Rao will take over from Mr. Chada Venkat Reddy who was State secretary for two terms. He was the Assistant Secretary till the conference.