Chiru's damage control mission fails miserably
Hyderabad: Worried over reports of possible large scale exodus from the Congress party in the Seemandhra region, the party high command seems to have swung into action.
It has asked Union Minister for Tourism K Chiranjeevi to talk to the erstwhile Praja Rajyam MLAs and see that they do not leave the party and participate in the debate on draft Telangana Bill.
Following this, Chiranjeevi held a luncheon meeting with all the MLAs belonging to his group and advised them not to take any hasty decision. He urged them not to stall the proceedings and instead participate in the discussion and express their views on the bifurcation issue.
This meeting assumes importance since there were reports that PRP MLAs including Ganta Srinivasa Rao and several Kapu leaders were mulling to join Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Speculations are rife that Srinivasa Rao has been assured Visakhapatnam seat by TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu. Among others, who are said to be contemplating to join the TDP are Kothapalli Subbarayudu, Thota Trimurthulu and M Sridhar Krishna Reddy.
The MLAs who attended the meeting explained to Chiranjeevi how the image of the Congress party had taken a beating in the Seemandhra region and told him that it was not possible to win the election on Congress symbol. They also told the Union Minister to impress upon the Congress high command about the real situation in the region.
However, Chiranjeevi is said to have told them that they were now part of a national party and should not worry about winning or losing an election.
He reiterated what AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh and other leaders have been saying on the decision to bifurcate the State. He told them that the Congress party had taken the decision to bifurcate the State only after all the parties had given their consent.
Later speaking to the media, MLA Vanga Geetha said they explained the ground situation to Chiranjeevi. 'He will continue to be in the Congress party come what may. However, Chiranjeevi is unhappy that the party high command did not agree to his demand to make Hyderabad as a Union Territory,' she stated.
Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that another meeting would be held soon to discuss the political strategy for 2014 elections. However, when asked if he had decided to quit Congress, Ganta refused to comment.
News Posted: 4 January, 2014
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