UNI) Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi today said his visit to Andhra Pradesh Capital was meant to enthuse party cadres for the ensuing by-elections to be held for 18 Assembly and one Lok Sabha seats.
Talking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan here, he said his visit was totally political to study the party’s position at the ground level.
Mr Ravi said he met Congress leaders from three regions –Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana and sought their opinion. After talking with rest of the leaders, MLAs and MPs, he would submit a report to the party High Command, he added.
He said he came to Hyderabad not on behalf of Union Health Minister and incharge of Party affairs in the state Ghulam Nabi Azad. “I am here as Mr Azad is pre-occupied with other related work,” he added.
The Union Minister said the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ruled as Chief Minister of the state on behalf of the Congress Party and it was not wise to talk about him when he was no more.
Mr Ravi said the YSR Congress Party was a rival to the Congress Party like the other parties.
“I received complaints from the leaders of Coastal Andhra about the party’s position there,” he said, adding there was difference of opinion among the party leaders which would be discussed and set right.
Mr Ravi said after having discussion with Chief Minister, APCC Chief Botcha Satyanarayana and other leaders, he came to Hyderabad and clarified that there was no misunderstanding between the Chief Minister and the APCC Chief.
Both the Chief Minister and APCC Chief were having good relation and working unitedly, the Union Minister said, adding he was well aware of Telangana state issue.
He called upon the party’s rank and file to take the government schemes to the people.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi had reportedly sent the minister here in a bid to step up efforts to set the party house in order ahead of the by-elections. UNI
