Had the Seemandhra legislators paid heed to his suggestion that they should resign to their posts collectively, the process of bifurcation would not have progressed, rued PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayanaya here on Monday.
Interacting with media persons, he admitted that the division was painful and caused heartburn to people. He recalled that none had responded to his suggestion that all the people’s representatives of Seemandhra should resign from their posts to stall division. The present situation was due to lack of unity among political parties in Seemandhra unlike in Telangana where all political parties displayed unity.
He, however, said time had come for the State Congress to issue notices to the legislators who were indulging in anti-party activities and undermining the interests of the ruling party with the sole intention of crossing over to rival parties.
Indicating that the party would soon issue notices and initiate disciplinary action against such MLAs, he said those who were dropping hints to quit the party should go now and need not wait for the draft Bill on Telangana to be tabled in the Assembly.
Mr. Satyanarayana reiterated that the Congress leaders from both the regions would stick to their respective known stands when the draft Bill would be sent to the Assembly and said none was conspiring to grab the Chief Minister’s post or float a new party.
Without taking any names, he said that some Seemandhra Congress MLAs and ministers were solely blaming the Congress party for its decision to bifurcate the party. They were well aware that the Congress party had taken the decision on Telangana only after the Telugu Desam and YSR Congress gave their written consent. Yet, these Congress leaders who reserved their “berths” in rival parties were targeting the ruling party only to increase their stock, he quipped.
“Every ruling party leader should respect the party while representing people’s views. As loyal party workers we will respect the party decision and remain with it,” he said.
He said he had no additional information than what Digvijay Singh had said that the Bill would be ready by month-end for sending it to the Assembly. However, sources said it might now come in the December first week.
