The Hindu : Cong. fears Azad's visit may be ill-timed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Cong. fears Azad's visit may be ill-timed

By W. Chandrakanth

HYDERABAD June 7. A fresh controversy is brewing in the State Congress over the proposed visit of the new AICC incharge of the AP affairs, Ghulam Nabi Azad, to Hyderabad on June 13.

Mr.Azad's visit, his first after assuming charge of party's affairs, comes at the fag-end of the CLP leader, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy's ongoing 60-day `Praja Prasthanam'.

The itinerary of Mr.Azad does not include any meeting with Dr.Reddy. He also does not intend to attend the Ichapuram meeting, where Dr.Reddy is rounding off his padayatra on June 15.

The sources point out that Mr.Azad had not asked for any executive body meeting of the PCC as it would require the presence of several leaders who are accompanying Dr.Reddy. The CLP leader himself would be unable to attend such a meeting.

The groups in the Congress known for their skills in settling scores are bound to exert their pressure on Mr.Azad, who is essentially coming here to have a feel of the party's strengths and weaknesses.

Mr.Azad's absence at the Rajahmundry meeting on May 17 when Dr.Rajasekhara Reddy entered East Godavari segment of his padayatra was sought to be used by the anti-YSR faction to a drive a wedge between the two leaders.

Indications are that this faction would not let go of the present opportunity to undermine the image of Dr.Reddy. Party circles fear that Mr.Azad's visit is "ill-timed'' and would send wrong signals to political opponents at a crucial stage of Dr.Reddy's padayatra which evoked a good public response.

Mr.Azad has conveyed his inability to postpone the visit as it is linked to his programmes in Himachal Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Uttaranchal and was based on original schedule of the CLP leader's padayatra which should have ended on June 9. The padayatra got extended due to Dr.Reddy falling sick near Rajahmundry.

Mr.Azad, party sources aver, would also seek to elicit the opinion of different sections of the party on the PCC leadership -- though the exercise would not imply an immediate replacement of the present incumbent, M.Satyanarayana Rao, who has completed a three-year term.

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