Hyderabad, March 28: Stung by the humiliating defeat of party candidates in the elections to the Legislative Council from the Local Authorities Constituency (LAC), the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) is likely to constitute an enquiry committee to look into various aspects, including anti-party activities, in the run-up to the polling.
Drawing widespread criticism over the role of some senior leaders and MLAs loyal to former MP and YSR Congress Party president Jaganmohan Reddy, the APCC is said to be considering naming a four-member panel. The Congress could win only three seats out of the nine it had contested conceding three each to the rival TDP and independents backed by the Jagan group.
Sources close to the APCC chief D. Srinivas said there was pressure on the party leadership to order a probe into the poll debacle. The defeat of party nominees in Chittoor, Kadapa, West Godavari, Anantapur and East Godavari LACs was a serious matter.
The Congress leadership is embarrassed by the role played by at least two former Ministers – J. C. Diwakar Reddy and P. Ramachandra Reddy — who backed rival candidates and got them elected. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy himself suffered a serious setback when the Congress nominee, B. Naresh Kumar Reddy, tasted defeat at the hands of Desai Tippa Reddy, fielded by Mr. Ramachandra Reddy in Chittoor district.
It was the same case in Kadapa district, where the efforts of four Ministers could not stop the victory of Jagan group nominee C. Narayana Reddy.
In West Godavari district, Jagan loyalist and former ZP chief Meka Sesha Babu trounced Congress candidate and sitting MLC Ch. Ganga Bhavani.
In East Godavari, sitting Congress MLC Gidugu Rudraraju lost because of the split in party votes.
There was also criticism over the ‘secret understanding’ between the ruling party and the TDP.
–Agencies