The Hindu : Former MP's entry into Congress opposed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 28, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Former MP's entry into Congress opposed

By Ravi Reddy

NIZAMABAD, JAN. 27. Senior Congress leaders and former MLAs of the district have strongly opposed any attempt by the former MP, Gaddam Atmacharan Reddy, to join the Congress party. The announcement by Mr. Atmacharan Reddy, that he was willing to contest the coming Lok Sabha polls, has led to a debate in the Congress over his possible entry.

The former Congress MP and NRI had contested and won the 1996 Lok Sabha elections but joined the BJP later in the 1998 polls after being denied the Congress ticket and continues to be a primary member of that party. Congress leaders, particularly the former MLAs, are understood to have opposed the entry of Mr. Reddy into the Congress in August last itself. Party circles said that decks were prepared for the entry of the former MP into the Congress fold but the plans went awry after the Congress legislators from the district opposed any such move. Following the stiff resistance, Mr. Reddy is believed to have dropped the idea to switch over for the time being. But, the talk of dissolution of the Lok Sabha shortly brought Mr. Reddy back into political focus.

Though he is said to be keen on contesting the Lok Sabha polls on the BJP ticket, there are chances that he might join the Congress and lobby for a ticket. Congress leaders are determined to thwart any attempt by him to join the Congress bandwagon. However, Mr. Reddy is known to maintain close contacts with the All India Congress Committee and Congress Working Committee members. Congress leaders confessed that Mr. Reddy had lost the confidence of the electorate after making tall promises about providing drinking water to the district through a Rs. 133 crore project. This particular promise has not materialised and he was forced to drop the issue in the 1998 elections. Moreover, the Congress leaders are firm in their demand that there are many other eligible persons who could be allotted the ticket. Sources said that the Congress would not hesitate to field the former Bodhan MLA, P. Sudarshan Reddy, as the Lok Sabha candidate, if there are no suitable candidates. Mr. Sudarshan Reddy has given his consent to contest the elections if the need arises. The name of the former Balkonda MLA, K.R.Suresh Reddy, may also be considered if the party decides to give the ticket to a forward caste leader. The Congress high command does not want to rub the party leaders on the wrong side by bringing back Mr. Reddy. According to senior Congress leaders, there is a move to give representation to backward caste communities, particularly those belonging to the Goud, Munnuru Kapu, Yadav and Padmashali communities.

If there is an alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the Congress high command is sure to allot at least one ticket each to these communities. If this equation is given serious thought, the chances of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee joint secretary and former Indian Youth Congress secretary, B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, being asked to enter the fray from Nizamabad is not ruled out.

Leaders conceded that after the former MP, T. Bala Goud, no other person except Mr. Mahesh Kumar Goud commands respect of the community.

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Andhra Pradesh