New APCC chief vows to forge unity

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 20. The newly appointed president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee(I), Mr. M. Satyanarayana Rao, will assume charge of office on May 25. He will leave for Delhi on May 23 on a ``thanksgiving mission'' to meet Central leaders. He would arrive here on May 25 morning and drive straight to Gandhi Bhavan to take charge of the new assignment.

The outgoing PCC(I) president, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, met Mr. Satyanarayana Rao at his residence this morning and assured him of full cooperation. Mr. Rao called on the CWC member, Mr. Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy, and sought his blessings. Mr. Vijaybahskara Reddy was instrumental in the high command picking Mr. Rao to head the PCC.

``My first priority is maintaining unity in the party. I would strive to take all leaders and workers along with me,'' Mr. Satyanarayana Rao told this correspondent. He hastened to add that it was not an easy task. He would ensure perfect coordination between the PCC to be headed by him and the CLP, led by Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Mr. Rao said he was not in a hurry to take over as Dr. Reddy had to fulfil certain commitments like leading the party campaign in the two byelections - Chevella and Bhongir. ``In fact, Dr. Reddy was the first person to phone me from Pulivendula and inform me about the appointment. Later, Mr. Motilal Vora, the AICC(I) general secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh, and others spoke,'' Mr. Rao added.

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy participated in a dharna at the district headquarters at Mahabubnagar in the afternoon as part of the APCC(I) - sponsored agitational programme against price rise. He spoke to Mrs. P. Sabita Reddy, Congress(I) candidate for Chevella constituency, and assured her that he would keep his word of campaigning in the constituency.

The new PCC(I) chief sought to assure the party cadre that he would like to set an example to the whole country by maintaining a perfect rapport with the CLP. The differences in a party like the Congress(I) were natural. His endeavour would be to talk to all and bring about a rapprochement.Asked whether he would reorganise the PCC set-up, he said he had not yet given thought to it.

Notwistanding the goodwill gestures between Mr. Rao and Dr. Reddy, there was palpable disappointment in the camp of the outgoing president. For, Mr. Satyanarayana Rao was not surely the choice of Dr. Reddy, who suggested to the high command at least three names - Mr. T. Purushotham Rao, APCC coordinator, Mr. D. Srinivas, MLA and APCC(I) vice-president and Dr. P. Shankar Rao, MLA.

Dr. Reddy's supporters are unhappy over the timing of the change of guard.

A large number of party leaders made a beeline to Mr. Rao's residence at Mehdipatnam to congratulate him.

Ms. Kumudben Joshi, Chairman of the State Election Authority (for organisational elections), also phoned Mr. Rao and congratulated him. A senior leader, who was beside Mr. Rao, reportedly picked up the phone and remarked: ``We have done it'' (implying the change of leadership).

Informed sources said the PCC(I) set-up would be recast and even the spokespersons would be changed.

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Section  : Southern States
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