[1]The Congress central leadership on Wednesday specifically asked the state leaders to concentrate more on strengthening both the Congress party and the administration instead of settling personal scores and bringing disrepute to the party’s image.
It also directed the state leadership to prepare an action plan on how to win majority seats in the ensuing bypolls to 18 Assembly and one Lok Sabha seats. In a three-hour-long meeting with Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana and Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha at Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence, the AICC general secretary and in-charge of party affairs in AP categorically said that until state leaders work together and concentrate on administration, it would be difficult for the party to stage a comeback in the ensuing bypolls.
He reportedly observed that the central leadership could not be a mute spectator to happenings in the state and would have to take some drastic steps to save the party. The three leaders have promised to bury the hatchet and work in unison. What was significant about today’s meeting of state leaders with Ghulam Nabi Azad was that while they came separately to meet him, they left for AP Bhavan after the meeting in the Chief Minister’s official car to have another meeting amongst themselves.
The inclusion of Mr Raja Narasimha too in the talks was another significant development today. Azad spoke his mind on the ongoing tussle between the CM and PCC chief on the alleged involvement of the latter's relatives in running several liquor shops in Vizianagaram district and the ACB raids, and sought the leaders' plans in countering the political challenges ahead of the bypolls.
The three leaders are expected to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday and discuss Telangana statehood issue.
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