The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Dilly-dallying by Congress may prove dear for party

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Monday, May 09, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Dilly-dallying by Congress may prove dear for party

Ravi Reddy

Report commissioned by Kiran hints at aversion among voters against D. L. Ravindra Reddy

HYDERABAD: Despite a clear warning in the form a confidential report about its poor prospects, the ruling Congress appears to have done little to improve upon its prospects in the by-polls to Kadapa Parliamentary and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies on Sunday.

The report noted that “There is some extent of aversion among the voters against Congress candidate D. L. Ravindra Reddy for reasons best known to them. Hence, it is advisable that being the Congress candidate in the forthcoming elections initially, he has to resolve the existing aversion against him and has to make all his efforts to secure good majority in his Assembly constituency.” Dr. Ravindra Reddy was also asked to take steps to attract the Balija voters in Mydukur constituency in his favour keeping in view the proposed merger of the PR with the Congress.

The report speaks of how the resignation by Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and his mother Vijayamma to their seats had triggered mass migration to the YSR Congress Party. A 42-page confidential assessment report said to have been prepared at the instance of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy had conceded nearly a month ago that Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy had clear winning chances and that the Congress and the TDP would fight for the second and third places.

A copy of the report available with The Hindu pointed out that money would play a key role in the elections and wanted the Congress candidates in Kadapa Parliamentary and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies to spend a good amount too. “The polls would be beyond ethics, moral values, political ideologies, personal images of the contestants and only money was going to play a key role,” the report noted.

“Ever since Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy had become the Chief Minister, his son had drastically improved his image in YSR district, particularly among the youth. He had become popular and developed close contacts with all sections of people in the district by helping them personally,” the report mentions.

Sympathy wave

Further, the report warns that after the death of YSR, some sort of discontent had developed among some sections of people against the Congress that its high command had done ‘severe injustice' to Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy by denying him the Chief Minister's post, thereby creating sympathy for him.

Conceding that the ruling party's base had eroded vastly after the resignations, it was suggested that the only way to revive the Congress' fortunes was to appoint in charges for all the seven Assembly segments and constitution of a political management team with important leaders, including those from the APCC, to oversee the election campaign and coordinate the activities.

In addition, the Jagan camp is said to have wooed important leaders, cadres and voters of all sections, irrespective of their party affiliations by offering huge money.

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