Senior Congress leader and former MP Chinta Mohan stressed the immediate need for taking back YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy into the party fold or else it should think of inviting cine actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan to strengthen the party in the State.
“As of now, the Congress party’s position is very difficult in the new State. I should say our party position is critical. We should think of getting stronger by way of inviting other like-minded leaders,” said Mr. Mohan.
He made these sensational comments in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Raghuveera Reddy and other leaders who took part in the public meeting organised at Indira Bhavan here on Thursday to mark the arrival of social justice empowerment ‘bus yatra’ and the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Mr. Mohan sought to argue in favour of his statements, saying that recently, Mr. Rahul Gandhi held meetings with the Left parties in Kolkata in the backdrop of the need for political rearrangements. There should be similar attempts at finding new voices and new leaderships for really strengthening the Congress party in a bid to provide an alternative to the people, he said.
Avoiding a direct reference to Mr. Mohan’s speech, Mr. Raghuveera Reddy said that the Congress party was such a party in which every leader has space to express his or her opinions freely. He further said that senior leaders like Mr. Chinta Mohan had that freedom to make statements about his personal opinions. However, the present meeting was primarily intended for honouring the memory and contributions of Dr. Ambedkar to the people of poorer sections, he said.
Reiterating the need for addressing concerns of the poorer sections of society, Mr. Raghuveera Reddy asserted that it was only the Congress party that practically showed its commitment to protecting and ensuring the rights of the underprivileged SC, ST, BC and minorities in the country over the past many decades.
“Take a look at the Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh now. They are just bothered about promoting their family interests and there is no scope for other leaders in those parties to grow to higher positions,” said Mr. Raghuveera Reddy.
