Hyderabad, June 02: The Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, is reportedly disturbed about the party’s prospects in Andhra Pradesh due to lack of coordinated efforts between the party and the government. Sources close to the AICC told this newspaper that very recently Mrs Gandhi had reportedly discussed the AP affairs at the party’s Core Committee meet. She was unhappy over the lack of coordination after the party’s poor performance in the Kadapa bypolls.
She observed that AP and Rajasthan, where the party is in power, had contributed a major chunk of MPs for the Congress. She asked the top ranking party leaders to step in and take corrective measures. The meeting also discussed the issue of Telangana and concluded that “unless the problem is addressed it is difficult to bring unity in the state”. Mrs Gandhi is learnt to have told the Core Committee that a separate meeting will be convened to address the issue exclusively.
Later, the senior party leaders spoke to the Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, about the need to take everyone along and involve all seniors in the decision-making. Sources said the Core Committee members told the CM to periodically meet the ‘state head’ for advice on all important matters. Reports suggest that party’s central leadership will soon appoint a coordination panel once the new PCC chief is named. This panel will comprise senior leaders and ministers belonging to all the regions in the state which will meet frequently to discuss the matters confronting the government and party and take decisions.
–Agencies