Amalapuram MP and vice-president of Jai Samaikyandhra Party (JSP) G.V. Harsha Kumar ruled out the possibility of rejoining the Congress or merger of his party with the national party before or after the elections. Mr. Kumar told the media here on Thursday that he turned down an invitation from AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh to join the Congress. Mr. Singh, who had a telephonic conversation with Mr. Kumar on Wednesday, also hinted that efforts were being made to lure former Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy into party fold.
On his poll plans, Mr. Kumar said that he would contest from Amalapuram constituency and his son G.V. Sriraj from P. Gannavaram. He also hinted that JSP may field Vundavalli Arun Kumar from Malkajgiri constituency. He said his party stood for value-based politics and expressed hope that it would emerge as an alternative force in the coming elections. The JSP leader criticised Mr. Pawan Kalyan for supporting the BJP, which he claimed was equally responsible like the Congress for State bifurcation.
