Hyderabad, May 18: The Seemandhra MPs and MLAs who included ministers and senior party leaders on Tuesday informed AICC general secretary and incharge of AP affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad about the need for the state to remain ‘united’ in the interest of the people as well as the party.
“Besides all-round development of the state, the party’s prospects will be better in the long run,” they noted. Azad reportedly enquired with them about the possible ‘consequences’ if the Congress leadership takes a decision in favour or against Telangana. He also sought their views towards strengthening of the party in the prevailing political situation.
Talking to newsmen later, primary education minister S Sailajanath said they (Seemandhra Congress leaders) had urged Azad to see that the Congress leadership and the UPA government took a decision on the state’s bifurcation issue based on the Srikrishna Committee report.
“The state Congress has come to power in the united Andhra Pradesh and would retain power in the next elections,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Narsapur MP Kanumuri Bapi Raju claimed that there was no change in their (Seemandhra leaders) decision in respect of state’s bifurcation issue. “We have placed our views before Azad for party’s strengthening in a united state. We were ready to go along with our Telangana counterparts but they were not ready to join in our meeting with Azad,” he said.
Union ministers MM Pallam Raju, A Sai Pratap, MPs N Janardhan Reddy, state ministers S Sailajanath, DL Ravindra Reddy, and others were present.
–Agencies