BATTLE MODE: Machilipatnam MP Badiga Ramakrishna and senior Congress leader Pinnamaneni Koteswara Rao campaigning in Pamarru mandal in Krishna district along with local candidates on Sunday. PHOTO: CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR.

VIJAYAWADA : On the eve of closure of campaign for elections to Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), Congress leaders in the district appeared upbeat on Sunday on the party's winning prospects.

Setting aside their internal differences, all Congress leaders intensified their campaign.

All of them appeared confident of the party's prospects of romping home with 40 ZPTCs out of the total 49 that are going to polls on June 28.

"But for those few seats in which the TDP and CPI (M) are working together, we can actually win all the seats," said District Congress Committee president Segu Venkateswarlu.

Same view

Pinnamaneni Koteswara Rao, the grand old man of Krishna district's Congress politics, who has assumed the responsibility of directing the party to a certain victory, shared the same view.

"The party is strong in every Assembly constituency, and differences, if any, are too insignificant to affect the party's winning prospects. We are on a good turf in Nandigama and Gudivada segments too where we have no MLAs," he explained at Pamarru.

Despite all the confidence, the Congress leaders are cautious in not spelling out any name for the post of Zilla Parishad chairperson.

This is notwithstanding the fact that the choice has already narrowed down to K. P. Reddaiah, who is contesting from Thotlavalluru ZPTC, and Kukkala Nageswara Rao, a late entrant to the party who is in the race from Movva ZPTC.

"It will be decided by the PCC president and the Chief Minister after results are declared. Any decision they take is acceptable to us," Mr. Koteswara Rao maintained.

However, Congress cadre were ready to concede that the prospects appeared bright in case of Mr. Nageswara Rao, as he was said to enjoy the backing of none other than Mr. Koteswara Rao himself. If it really comes to a close call in choosing a nominee for the ZP chair, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy would not ignore the word of Mr. Koteswara Rao, party workers feel.

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