The Hindu : Alliance talks soon, says Azad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 10, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Alliance talks soon, says Azad

NELLORE, JAN 9. The All-India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said here on Friday that the party would begin negotiations for electoral alliance and seat adjustments with friendly political parties anytime after January 12.

The dates for these talks would be based on the outcome of decisions taken at the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Executive meeting in Hyderabad on January 11 and 12. These negotiations would be conducted by senior party leader, Pranab Mukherjee, and himself, he said, without indicating whether APCC leaders would join the talks.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Azad expressed confidence that negotiations would be fruitful for the party and good for democracy. He foresaw no problem in arriving at an agreement with the Communist Party of India and said if a formal arrangement was not possible with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), there would be `perfect understanding' to ensure that the anti-NDA vote was not divided.

As for an electoral alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), he said he did not expect any hiccups. "We have conducted a survey and we know the strength of the TRS and the Congress". The negotiations would consider both pre-poll and post-poll adjustment.

However, he categorically ruled out "further concessions" on the party's stand regarding Telangana sentiment. "We have drawn a line by announcing that our party is in favour of a second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC). That should amply clarify our intentions in support of the Telangana sentiment," he said.

Answering a question, Mr. Azad, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), said it was not possible for the party to announce its Chief Ministerial candidate before the elections because its implications would be `dangerous'. "We do not want to distance any group from our party by rushing with such a decision," he said.

But, he asserted, the party would not disappoint people. Admitting that the former Congress Legislature Party leader, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, was a crowd-puller, he said "those who oppose him within the party should also realise this". The CWC member was happy over the public response to the Congress' latest bus yatra in the State.

He agreed that a greater degree of cohesion was needed among Congress leaders to convince people. Towards this end, the party would curb the tendency of some leaders to rush to the press with complaints against other functionaries. Mr. Azad claimed that a recent survey commissioned by the party had indicated a clear majority for the party in the coming Assembly elections.

Calling upon all groups within the party to work unitedly for the party's victory, he said ticket would be given on the basis of `winnability'.

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