Congress party's central leadership has set its eyes on making major gains in the by-elections to 18 Assembly seats.
In wake of humiliating defeat in all the seven Assembly seats that witnessed by-elections, the party leadership is keen on putting up an impressive show against the YSR Congress Party.
AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad spent over an hour with a dozen Seemandhra MPs and issued specific instructions on Friday. He held wide ranging consultations with them on the party's preparedness to face by-elections.
Ministers – Panabaka Lakshmi and D. Purandeswari, MPs – A. Saipratap, J. D. Seelam, Lagadapati Rajagopal, Ananta Venkataram Reddy, G.V. Harsha Kumar, K. Bapiraju and former Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy attended the meeting.
As part of its strategy, it was decided to constitute a committee for each constituency comprising a Minister, an MP, two MLAs and three PCC office-bearers. The panel to be named in 15 days would be entrusted the task of giving a status report on each constituency. The MPs wanted the party to announce its candidates in advance so that they could take on the YSR Congress and the TDP head on. Mr. Azad advised the Anantapur MP Ananta Venkataram Reddy and Mr. Diwakar Reddy to sink their differences and work for the party candidate's victory.
Complain against Lagadapati
Similarly, Mr. Saipratap reportedly briefed Mr. Azad about the prevailing situation in Kadapa district, while Ms. Panabaka Lakshmi is said to have complained that the survey results being made public by Mr. Lagadapati Rajagopal were damaging the party's image.
Parkal seat
Meanwhile, 10 Telangana Congress MPs also met Mr. Azad. The AICC general secretary is said to have enquired with them about the Parkal seat, which would witness bypoll along with 17 others seats.
'T' MPs defiant
The MPs, however, continued their defiance and demanded that the Centre expedite the statehood issue. During the meeting, the MPs told him that everything would be normal in Telangana, if the Centre made suitable announcement on the statehood issue.
It is understood Mr. Azad made enquiries about the status of Hyderabad.
The MPs said Hyderabad was very much part and parcel of Telangana and they would not accept a State without the State Capital.
Complain against Kiran
Another Member of Parliament complained about the growing number of groups within the Congress party and reportedly expressed displeasure about the statements being issued by some senior leaders.
The MP objected to the Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy's remarks on suicides by students and youth. A first-time Member of Parliament objected to the manner in which ACB enquiry was on to fix some Ministers.