The Congress' blues in AP

DESARAJU SURYA

Hyderabad: The blues of 1980s and 1990s seem to be returning to haunt the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh.

Dissidence, that has been the hallmark of the Congress, is raising its head once again in the state party even as its central leadership remains nonchalant.

The party has been largely in disarray for over 21 months now – after the death of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to be precise – but the so-called high command failed to steer it out of the muddle.

So much so that the Congress government is not even in a position to celebrate its anniversary, due on May 20, this year.

Majority of the state ministers and legislators are gunning for the head of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who failed to prove his leadership even six months after getting into the saddle.

While the Telangana statehood issue has become another headache for the Congress, the biggest threat looms in the form of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy who is eating into the party’s base particularly in the Andhra-Rayalaseema regions.

The Congress is, however, unable to contend with any of these factors despite the damage being done to the party across the state.

The party’s indecisiveness on the Telangana issue needs no special mention while it has developed cold feet in cracking the whip on legislators and leaders openly sailing with Jagan even after he launched the YSR Congress party.

Also, the “lack of co-ordination” between the government and the party in the state has become a point of intense debate in Congress circles here.

Kiran Kumar Reddy, who heads the government, and D Srinivas, who leads the party, are said to be not on good terms, thereby pushing the cadres into chaos, Congress sources admit.

“The current situation is reminiscent of the scene in 1982 when the Telugu Desam took birth as a powerful regional party that eventually marginalised the Congress. Now, the YSR Congress is born and poses a similar threat,” a veteran PCC leader observed.

There is disillusionment in the Congress rank and file that the high command has not been caring to set the house in order in general and keep Jagan under check in particular.

In fact, this was the message that most of the senior leaders conveyed to AICC general secretary, in charge of AP affairs, Ghulam Nabi Azad during his two-day visit to the state.

But, they reportedly failed to get any assurance from Azad except that there would not be any change of guard despite the demand for replacement of Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Rebel trouble for Nallari Kiran

DESARAJU SURYA

Hyderabad: Ministers, MLAs and MLCs raised a virtual rebellion against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, protesting his unilateral style of functioning.

They lodged strong complaints against the Chief Minister to All India Congress Committee general secretary, in charge of AP affairs, Ghulam Nabi Azad during their interaction with the latter here in the last two days.

Azad was here to take stock of the party affairs in the state in the aftermath of the Congress’ humiliating defeat in the Kadapa and Pulivendula by-elections.

Almost all the ministers who had one-on-one interaction with the Union Minister, as well as legislators who met him individually and in groups, were highly critical of Kiran Kumar Reddy’s style of functioning which they said was only ruining the party.

“We made our displeasure against the Chief Minister known to our party in charge. We told Azad that Kiran was never taking anyone into confidence,” a senior minister said after another round of discussions with the AICC general secretary in the state Congress headquarters Gandhi Bhavan.

The hate campaign against Kiran Kumar was initiated by MLAs from his native Chittoor district. Former minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, former deputy speaker G Kutuhalamma and a couple of other legislators from Chittoor submitted a petition against Kiran to Azad.

They poured out their grouse against the Chief Minister and went to the extent of saying he was a "misfit" for the post.

Some ministers then took their turn and vent their “anguish” over the state of affairs in the government.

“By nature Kiran is a loner and hence doesn’t consult his colleagues on any issue. Besides, he has a ‘I-know-everything’ attitude that is making matters worse,” one senior minister reportedly complained.

Moreover, Kiran was a “poor strategist” and it became evident during the Kadapa by-election, he pointed out.

At a time when YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was going all out in his attack against the government and when other opposition parties too were upping their ante on a wide range of issues, there was need for concerted action on part of the government and the party to get closer to people through a series of programmes. “Unfortunately, nothing of that sort is happening as a general impression gained ground that the administration in the state has become totally paralysed,” a couple of ministers reportedly told Azad.