HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, will not lead the Congress campaign in the civic elections, but only "monitor and interact" with the party workers and leaders through video-conferencing.

Announcing this at a press conference, the APCC president, K. Keshava Rao, said here on Thursday that the Chief Minister had already completed the campaign by going on "Rajiv Nagara Baata" and there was no need for him to campaign in the municipalities again.

Thrust on achievements

"This time the Congress campaign will be minus the star campaigner. But, I will be heading it from September 10," he said.

Dr. Keshava Rao said the main thrust of his campaign would be the achievements of the Congress Government. "We are confident that the people will vote for us as they have seen real development at the grassroots," he said.

He was confident that the parting of ways with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi would not have any negative impact on his candidates. "The TRS, on the other hand, will be routed", he added.

Advising his party workers to observe restraint, he said the remarks of the TRS leader, A. Narendra, should not be taken seriously.

`This is his level. Let's leave it to his wisdom," he said. Rallies against opponents and effigy burning were not signs of healthy democratic traditions, he said condemning the burning of Mr. Narendra's effigy.

Poser to TRS

He posed the following five questions to the TRS leadership:

"By giving a call to voters to defeat the Congress, whom do you want to favour ? Whose stand on Telangana has changed? Do you think that by splitting the pro-Telangana vote you are going to help the Telangana cause?

How can you campaign against the Congress while continuing in the Centre?

Are you not hurting the sentiments of the progressive people by joining hands with the RSS?

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