Hyderabad: Union Minister Vayalar Ravi on Tuesday held consultations with the ruling Congress MLAs and other party leaders in Andhra Pradesh as part of his mission to take stock of the prevailing situation in the state amid concerns over its sagging popularity.
Ravi, who arrived here last night, met state Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana, senior Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao, state ministers like Kondru Murali Mohan, S Sailajanath, legislators and several other party functionaries.
Some party sources claimed that Congress Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao, a close friend of late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, also called on Ravi.
“We expressed our views on what is happening here. We told him that SCs, STs, BCs and minorities should get importance for Congress to return to power in 2014 assembly elections,” Murali Mohan told reporters. Noting that Ravi’s visit would do good for Congress in Andhra Pradesh, Hanumantha Rao said the Union Minister would give a factual report to the party high command for strengthening the party.
Among other Congress functionaries, some told Ravi that there should be better coordination between the Chief Minister and the PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana, others said Congress leaders be given the ‘nominated posts’ as three years have already passed after the party came to power in 2009.
Talking to reporters after his arrival here last night, Ravi, who is familiar with the state affairs, said he has come to understand the prevailing situation in the party. He is expected to submit a report on his visit to the party high command.
The Union Minister’s visit came in the wake of the trouble in the state Congress over the Telangana issue and the reported growing strength of Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The ruling party is witnessing intense infighting among party leaders in recent times.
The sharp differences within the party have emerged as a matter of concern to the Congress high command, as bypolls will be held soon to 18 assembly and one Lok Sabha constituency. Congress drew a blank in the bypolls held for 7 assembly seats recently. (PTI)
Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and state Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana had been recently summoned to Delhi and reportedly told by the party leadership to unitedly work for the party’s victory in the coming polls. The bypolls for 16 seats have become necessary due to the disqualification of sitting Congress MLAs who switched loyalty to Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and voted against the Congress government during a floor test in December while a sitting member quit in support of Jagan in another seat. Besides, actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi quit as MLA following his election to Rajya Sabha.