Date:08/02/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/02/08/stories/2004020802840400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

`Congress-Left can wrest 195 seats'

By Our Staff Reporter

KHAMMAM, FEB. 7. The Congress Legislative Party leader, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has said that the Congress and Left parties combine can win as many as 195 seats in the Assembly elections in the event of an electoral alliance.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he said his projections were based on the survey conducted by a reputed organisation. The overall situation was very much in favour of the Congress party, he claimed and said the party high command would take the final decision on the issue of alliance with Left parties.

He did not rule out the scope for a tie-up with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) as well. He said there were differences to be sorted out with the TRS in respect of certain seats. In the Telangana region itself, the Congress and communist parties would be able to garner not less than 65 seats. The remaining would be shared by the Telugu Desam, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Majlis and the TRS.

He said if the mood of the people was any indication, it would be a landslide victory for the Congress. "I have been in the midst of people since 1984. I have never seen this kind of a response so far. It is different this time, thanks to the party leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad's programmes which kept the party cadre constantly in touch with people. The Congress is ahead of other parties in poll campaign as well.''

On the Khammam Assembly seat for which the Congress, the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) have been staking claim, he said whether it was an alliance with communist parties or adjustment of seats with them, the high command would have the final say. He said problems coming in the way of forging alliance with other parties would be sorted out amicably. Being the largest party, the Congress would take the lead in resolving such issues.

He said that the Telugu Desam had ceased to enjoy the support of farmers. Farmers were paying the price for Government's policies. They had been ending up paying more interest rate on crop loans than business loans. The Congress Government under the regime of Indira Gandhi had arranged differential interest rate for farmers after nationalising banks. It would again be an issue of priority for the party's campaign in the State.

Employment generation in the State had come down to 0.3 per cent, much less than the national average. Chief Minister's Empowerment of Youth (CMEY) groups were being subjected to neglect after the last elections and youth were facing uncertain future in the State, he said. The State's position had come down to 24 in the country in employment generation.