Leadership vacuum at Telangana women’s panel, outgoing GHMC mayor in the race

Hyderabad: With rising concerns over crimes against women and pressure from activists, the Telangana Women's Commission has been functioning without a full leadership for weeks, as the govt weighs key appointments to the crucial post of chairperson.The position has remained vacant for several months after the term of the chairperson — along with those of commission members — came to an end. Typically, the chairperson serves a five-year term. However, Nerella Sharada had been appointed only to complete the remaining tenure after the previous chairperson, V Sunitha Laxma Reddy, resigned to contest the 2023 assembly elections.
Sources said the govt is now considering GHMC mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi for the post. Mahila Congress leaders, Indira Shobhan and Sunitha Rao, are also understood to be in the race. Sharada's term ended on Jan 7, and a decision is expected soon. With the GHMC mayor's tenure also completed, there is mounting speculation that either Vijayalakshmi or another senior leader could be moved to the commission.Sunitha Reddy stepped down as chairperson on Oct 25, 2023, to contest the assembly polls, which she later won from Narsapur. The post remained vacant for about four months before the Congress govt appointed Sarada in July 2024. Since Sharada's tenure expired, both the chairperson's post and the positions of the members have remained unfilled.The commission previously included members Sudham Laxmi, Katari Revathi Rao, Shaheena Afroze, K Eshwari Bai, V Gaddala Padma and Kommu Uma Devi Yadav.