The visit of former Kerala Chief Minister and AICC general secretary in- charge for A.P. affairs Oommen Chandy on Wednesday seemed to have invigorated the rank and file of the Congress in the district.
Mr. Chandy spent close to 10 hours at the DCC office interacting with supporters from each constituency and, even after 7 p.m., the party office was filled to the brim.
A huge procession, led by local leaders Mastan Vali and SC Cell president Y. Vijaya Kiran, gave the momentum. Party cadre were seen in a jubilant mood bursting fire crackers.
The presence of senior leaders such as Kasu Krishna Reddy, former Speaker Nadendla Manohar, former Union Minister J.D. Seelam, and other leaders infused a new vigour in the party.
Stronghold
The district has always been central to the fortunes of the Congress to the exception of the shocking defeat in 2014.
In 2004, the party had won 18 out of 19 Assembly seats. In 2009, it won 12 out of 17 seats. During the Congress rule from 2004-2014, the district had been represented five Ministers, including Kanna Lakshminarayana and Mr. Krishna Reddy. Even after the death of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, senior leaders from the district K. Rosaiah and Mr. Manohar were given major responsibilities.
An year before elections, the party aims at turning the tide in its favour, though electoral success may still be a far cry. But local leaders are in an upbeat mood. “We are sure to make a mark in most of Assembly segments if elections are held now. People are vexed with both the BJP and TDP governments and are waiting for an opportunity to overthrow them,” said a senior leader.
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