The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Two Congress veterans differ on seniority issue

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Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Two Congress veterans differ on seniority issue

There is nothing like senior or junior in party affairs: M. Satyanarayana Rao

Purushottam Reddy says he is prepared to contest from Alair or Bhongir
MSR says leaders above 60 years should make way for youngsters

HYDERABAD: Although they are one in their demand for separate Telangana, senior Congress leaders M. Satyanarayana Rao and Vuppunutala Purushottam Reddy appear to have different views on several issues like seniority in party affairs and the time to quit active politics.

While Mr. Purushottam Reddy lamented that he was not considered a senior despite 50 years in public life, Mr. Satyanarayana Rao said there was nothing like senior or junior when it came to party affairs. Mr. Reddy, a septuagenarian, said he was prepared to contest from Alair or Bhongir in the next elections but, Mr. Satyanarayana Rao, on the contrary, favoured a retirement age for politicians. In an informal chat with reporters in the Assembly lobbies on Monday, Mr. Satyanarayana Rao said the leaders who had crossed 60 years should opt against contesting and make way for the younger ones.

YRS case

Asked whether Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy too should quit once he crossed 60, he said it was up to Dr. Reddy to decide and reiterated that he would not contest any election in future.

The two veterans, however, echoed similar feelings when asked about the resolution on Telangana and the high command’s stand on separate Statehood to the region.

They opined that there was no point in convincing AICC general secretary and AP affairs in-charge Veerappa Moily after his reported statement that Telangana was not an issue in election.

Mr. Satyanarayana Rao went a step ahead in claiming that he was not hopeful of getting any concrete assurances from the high command by frequently visiting New Delhi.

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Andhra Pradesh