VIJAYAWADA : The two Ministers from the district, i.e. Koneru Ranga Rao (Municipal Administration) and Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao (Higher Education), were not given an opportunity to address the Congress party's mini plenary and `Grama Bheri' programme at Tummalapallivari Kshetrayya Kalakshetram here on Sunday.

Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Keshava Rao said in no uncertain terms that neither the Ministers nor MLAs would be given priority in the party deliberations, which were aimed at getting feedback from the cadre.

Mr. Ranga Rao, who recovered from a series of injuries to his leg recently, was the lone leader seated in a chair on the dais.

Mr. Venkateswara Rao too remained a mute witness, as the chance to address the meeting was given to his father and former Zilla Parishad Chairman Pinnamaneni Koteswara Rao. One of the most senior leaders of the party in the district, Mr. Koteswara Rao spoke for a long time and indulged in some plain talk.

He said nothing had changed for better in the last two years of Congress rule when it came to devolution of powers and funds to panchayat raj bodies.

Most speakers heaped encomiums on the PCC president by attributing the party's recent electoral successes partly to his leadership.

But Mr. Keshava Rao himself was none too pleased as he appealed to the leaders not to use colourful phrases like `ratha sarathi' (charioteer) while referring to him.

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