AP Cong brainstorms over poll debacles

VIJAYAWADA: Having received three blows in quick succession - Assembly, Lok Sabha and now Delhi Assembly elections - Congress leaders have begun crying foul over the injustice meted out to the party at its two day brain storming session which began here on Friday for taking the opinion of the party leaders and cadres on what should be done to make bounce back to life.

If AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh said the crushing defeat for the Congress in AP was an unjust since the party was at no fault. He said that the Congress divided the state only after all other parties expressed their consent. But the people elected the TDP to power and the YSRC to be in the Opposition.

They had forgotten the fact that the BJP had been saying since 1998-99 that it would give two states for one vote. "But people punished us. It is an injustice to Congress, Sonia Gandhi and MPs who were defeated in the election," Digvijaya Singh said.

Though Digvijaya Singh did not talk about Delhi verdict, AICC SC and ST Cell chairman Koppula Raju did, saying that it was an indication that AAP was emerging as an alternative to the BJP which was a disturbing trend.

He wanted the Congress leaders to understand how in the next 10 years the demographic profile will change with majority of the people living in urban areas and the party's ideology has to be reoriented to capture their imagination.

Digvijay Singh too made a mention of the changing face of India and the socio-economic and political issues. "In the next 10 years, the aspirations of the people would be undergoing a sea-change. Poverty is reducing and those who are considered BPL are now making it to lower middle class and middle class. Consequently the aspirations of the SCs, STs, minorities and the poor are changing. We have to take cognizance of these developments," he said.

Digivijaya Singh, apparently to impress people in Andhra Pradesh, said that his party would fight for what is due to the state. "In Rajya Sabha, where we have strength, we will fight for redemption of all promises made at the time of bifurcation of the sate," he said and accused the BJP and the TDP for not paying attention to the promises

incorporated in the Act as well as the promise of special category status for AP and execution of Polavaram project," he said but wanted the party leaders to realise that it is time they rediscovered the party. "We have lost sight of ideology of the party. What does Congress stand for? No one knows. Several leaders who benefited from the party had left and joined other parties. The challenge before us is to rebuild the party," he said.

After the inaugural, group discussions took place on several politco-economic and organisational issues. After the end of the two day sessions, a report would be presented to the AICC on Feb 28, PCC president N Raghuveera Reddy said, in his presidential address.