Hyderabad, June 25: Asserting that he would not contest the byelection if the TRS leaders said it with certainty that they would secure statehood to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee chief D Srinivas today exuded confidence that the report to be submitted by the Srikrishna Committee by the year end would be in favour of Telangana.
“I am very confident that the Congress will decide in favour of separate statehood for Telangana. When I talk facts, the TRS is scared. Its leader K Chandrasekhara Rao, ideologue Jayashankar and other members are aware of my seriousness and keenness on Telangana. If they (TRS leaders) say that they will achieve Telangana state then I will not contest the byelection.”
Talking to newsmen at Gandhi Bhavan here, Srinivas, in reply to a query, asserted that the coming bypolls would not be treated as a referendum on the state government’s performance. “The issue arises only if the elections are going to be held on a particular issue. Various aspects will come into consideration of the voter.
In reality, all Telangana Congress leaders have strong conviction on Telangana. As many as 15 reports, including those given by the leaders of Telangana and Seemandhra, were submitted to the Srikrishna Committee on behalf of the Congress. Individually I am for Telangana. But, being the state Congress chief, I represent all the three regions and have the responsibility to strengthen the party all over the state.”
Referring to his campaigning in Nizamabad, the PCC president who had declared, even before the high command finalised the candidatures, that he would contest from Nizamabad Urban, claimed that the people of his constituency wished to see him as a pedda manishi (bigwig).
He said that there was scope for him to become a minister in the state cabinet after winning the byelection. ”Even a minister is treated as a pedda manishi. Power is required to take up developmental activities in the constituency. Whatever is destined for me will happen.”Asked about the OUJAC’s threats to chief minister K Rosaiah and others, Srinivas remarked that they (JAC students) had been telling several things like stoning the candidates to death and obstructing campaigning. ”Who should answer them? Let them do whatever they want.”
The PCC president asserted that the Congress government would not go back on its promise to provide scholarships and fee reimbursement to the students concerned, and would pay all the dues by August 15.
—Agencies