The State Congress leadership failed to invite political parties supporting Pranab Mukherjee, although the UPA’s Presidential candidate himself did not forget to contact YSR Congress leader Y.S. Vijayamma and sought her party’s support in the election.
AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad was earlier annoyed on being told that the State Congress leadership did not extend a formal invitation to the MIM to attend the meeting in Jubilee Hall, in spite of instructions from the top. They also forget to inform the CPI (M) about Mr. Mukherjee’s visit.
Talks on phone to her
On his part, however, Mr. Mukherjee tried to contact Ms. Vijayamma over telephone but was informed that she had left for Visakhapatnam. He succeeded in getting in touch with Ms. Vijayamma through her daughter Sharmila and formally asked her party’s support for his candidature. Ms. Vijayamma reportedly told him that the party’s governing council would shortly take a decision on the issue in consultation with Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who is now in prison.
Sources said Mr. Azad personally rang up MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi asking his party legislators to attend the meeting at Jubilee Hall. Mr. Owaisi deputed a delegation of the party MLAs to meet Mr. Mukherjee at his hotel.
The AICC leader also spoke to CPI (M) State secretary B.V.Raghavulu who assured him that a party representative would attend the meeting but none turned up. Mr. Azad also invited Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan, who, however, could not make it to the meeting as he was away in Khammam.
