The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Sycophants favoured in Congress: Upendra

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Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Sycophants favoured in Congress: Upendra

HYDERABAD: All India Congress Committee member and former Union Minister P. Upendra has quit the Congress and announced his decision to join the Praja Rajyam to ‘strengthen PR president Chiranjeevi’s hands.’

The senior leader, however, clarified that he had no intention to contest elections or play a pro-active role and that his task would be purely advisory in nature. Mr. Upendra said he thought it was futile to continue in the party as the Congress high command favoured ‘sycophants and time-servers’ in preference to those who could deliver goods.

Money was playing a “big role in deciding matters at the party and governmental levels” and ‘tickets are sold for money’. Recalling his association with the Congress after being expelled from the Telugu Desam in 1992, he said he was not given any assignment either at the State or national level ever since he lost the election in 1999.

Many seniors were feeling suffocated and unwanted in the party. Though the PCC president was calling meetings of seniors to discuss party affairs, it was restricted to a few. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on his part, recognised only MPs and MLAs. Mr. Upendra claimed that he had suggested way back in 1993 that Mr. Chiranjeevi with his inherent qualities of leadership and sacrifice should join politics. It was the duty of all the right thinking people to strengthen Chiranjeevi’s hands and help him in achieving the goal of probity in public life, he added.

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Andhra Pradesh