ANANTAPUR: Congress high command is planning multiple strategies to regain the party’s hold in Andhra Pradesh. After the party divided AP, with a part of it hived off as Telangana, not a single Congress person has been able to get elected as an MLA or MP in the past two general elections.
A part of the strategy is to give Andhra Pradesh the promised Special Category Status once Congress comes to power at the centre. It will emphasise on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s promise during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in AP that the next Congress government at the centre will grant Andhra Pradesh Special Category Status, whether or not people of AP vote for the Congress.
The promise could strike a chord with people, as the BJP, which is in power at the centre, has ignored the promise, despite being a party to the AP’s bifurcation in Parliament.
The other strategy is to invite all those, who quit Congress to join other parties, to re-join their parent party. Apart from making use of Congress leaders of AP in strengthening the party in the state, leaders of Karnataka and Telangana too will be roped in. Particular mention is being made about Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shiva Kumar in this regard.
Significantly, four Rajya Sabha seats are falling vacant in Karnataka. Congress high command is planning to give one of these seats to a candidate from Andhra Pradesh, as part of its strategy to strengthen the party in AP.
Congress realises such strategies are important as, after Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s demise, the party tasted dust in AP even after providing opportunities to K. Rosaiah and Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy to become chief ministers. Kiran Kumar Reddy formed a new political party after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He has recently joined the BJP.
Only a few senior leaders of Congress have continued with the party, while a majority of them shifted loyalties to YSRC and a few to TD.
A senior Congress leader from AP expressed confidence that with the new strategies and the Congress stock rising in the country, the party would do well in Andhra Pradesh.
