The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Leaders differ with YSR

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Wednesday, May 06, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Leaders differ with YSR

They expect only about 160 to 170 Assembly seats

Congress will retain power on its own: Moily
‘High poll percentage will benefit Congress’

HYDERABAD: With about ten days left for counting of votes, All India Congress Committee leaders do not seem to share the optimism of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy that the party will get 230 Assembly seats and form the government.

After a detailed review of the polling pattern, the high command feels that the party will indeed retain power, but with fewer seats.

Their estimate is that the number will hover around 160 to 170, way below Dr. Reddy’s figure to which he had stuck for nearly two months now.

Even AICC general secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh, Veerappa Moily went on record on Monday quoting the figure of 165 to 175. Another significant point he made was that the party would retain power on its own and that the TDP-led Grand Alliance efforts to come back to power would remain a dream.

He also exuded confidence that there would be no need for the Congress to seek the support of either Praja Rajyam or the Telangana Rashtra Samiti to form the government.

Voting details

Party sources said the high command had collected detailed information about the voting pattern in both phases of elections. “Central leaders discussed in detail with the State leaders, including the APCC chief D. Srinivas and others,” an APCC functionary remarked quoting the interaction with the Central leaders.

It was pointed out that feedback from the district-level leaders was also passed on to the central leadership, which came to a conclusion that the Congress was comfortably placed. The APCC chief too was believed to have informed the high command that the party was in a position to win 160 seats.

But, the Chief Minister’s close aides were absolutely confident that the party’s performance would be far better. “The huge turnout of women and youth and the high poll percentage will benefit Congress immensely,” a Congress leader close to him said.

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Andhra Pradesh