The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Group clash mars Congress meeting

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Sunday, Jul 22, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Group clash mars Congress meeting

Staff Reporter

Minister promises to sort it out

Police disperse clashing groups
Indiramma scheme a failure, says party councillor

Akiveedu: The meeting of the West Godavari District Congress Committee (DMC) held here on Saturday was marred by intra-party group clash. District In-charge Minister D. Subhash Chandrabose, Minister for Agriculture N.Raghuveera Reddy and Minor irrigation Minister Maganti Venkateswara Rao were a mute witness to the showdown by the groups, one led by party MP from Narsapur Ch. Harirama Jogaiah and the others by G.Nagababu.

At one stage, the police had to intervene to disperse the clashing groups and thereby help Maganti Babu complete his address in a hassle-free manner. The slogan-shouting groups kept on interrupting Mr. Venkateswara Rao demanding his attention to the organisational problem.

The ruling party in Palakole area is almost split into two groups, one led by Mr.Jogaiah and the other by Mr. Nagababu backed by Union Minister Dasari Narayanarao, since the last Assembly elections. Even as Mr. Nagababu managed to secure the party ticket for Palakole against the wishes of Mr. Jogaiah, the Jogaiah group allegedly saw his defeat at the hustings. Nomination of a person allegedly belonging to the TDP as a member of the trust board of a local temple in Palakole area by the Government with the support of Mr. Nagababu proved to be proverbial last straw. The In-charge Minister, however, appealed to the media not to blow the things (group clashes within the party) out of proportion but to play a positive role in highlighting the good performance of the Government. He assured the disgruntled groups that he would settle the organisational problems in the party amicably. Meanwhile, the claims by the Minister and ruling party MLAs on the development and welfare programme of the Government hardly cheered the party ranks. Moshen Raju, councillor from Bhimavaram Municipality, said the Indiramma housing programme was a failure in the district and riddled with corruption. DCC vice-president John Benny said the State and Central Governments were not able to check the rising prices of essential commodities, leading to heartburn in the middle and poorer sections.

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