Sonia may not campaign in Seemandhra
New Delhi : Even as the Congress leaders in Telangana are hoping for a turnaround of the party's fortunes with the proposed whirlwind tour of AICC president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi in the region next week, their counterparts in Seemandhra are a disappointed lot, following reports that the top bosses have decided against addressing any meetings in their region.
It might be mentioned here that Sonia and Rahul are expected to campaign for the party nominees in Telangana, obviously to cash in on the goodwill the party secured for granting the separate State.
Taking advantage of the visit of the AICC President in Telangana, some party nominees like Union Minister Panabaka Lakshmi are learnt to have persuaded Sonia Gandhi to visit Bapatla Lok Sabha constituency in Guntur district and campaign for her.
However, a section of Congress leaders have advised the party chief not to address any public meeting in the Seemandhra region on the ground that there were serious security concerns.
They are apprehensive that there might be protest demonstrations if she or Rahul visits the region. But what is more concerning for the party leaders is that there might be a poor turnout of people to her meetings as they are disillusioned with the Congress leadership post-bifurcation.
A political call is likely to be taken on the issue this week. Seemandhra Congress leadership would be meeting the party top brass on Friday to finalise the tickets for the Lok Sabha as well as Assembly elections.
The screening committee for Seemandhra has already held two sittings.Another round is likely early on Friday followed by a scheduled meeting of the Central Election Committee late in the evening.
On the issue of apprehensions over Sonia's campaigns, a senior party leader said it was a tough call as the party cadres would get demoralised if the top leadership avoids campaigning there.
However, he agreed that issues had to be factored in before arriving at a decision.In the end it would have to be her call, the leader declared.
News Posted: 11 April, 2014
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