70 MLAs to leave, says Lagadapati

Vijayawada: Stating that the Congress would suffer heavily both in Seemandhra and Telangana regions due to its “wrong decision”, Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal on Saturday predicted that over 70 MLAs, MPs and Union ministers from Seemandhra region would leave the party if the state was bifurcated.

Speaking to media here, Rajagopal said that the Congress would not win even one Lok Sabha seat in Seemandhra regions. Referring to the AP State Reorganisation Bill, the MP said that it would be defeated as all the Congress MLAs were opposed to the bifurcation of the state.

Reacting to PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana’s comment that 25 to 30 MLAs would leave the Congress, he said that the number would be more.

Rajagopal said that Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy had apprised AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi during their meeting on Friday, of the prevailing situation in the state and the possible loss to the Congress in the event of bifurcation. "The CM told Gandhi that the Congress could win only 3 to 4 MP seats in case of bifurcation," the MP said.

He said that the Congress should reconsider its decision on bifurcation. When asked about his political future, the MP replied that unity of the state is his first priority and he was ready to contest from Telangana region.

He alleged that other parties were adopting double standards on the issue of bifurcation.