Date:28/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/28/stories/2007062851630300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

MLA yet to decide on accepting RDB post

Correspondent

VIZIANAGARAM: Senior Congress leader and MLA P. Sambasiva Raju was accorded rousing reception by his followers at the railway station here on Wednesday.

Mr. Raju was on a personal visit to America last month amid the suspense on whether or not he would accept the north Andhra Regional Development Board chairmanship. Mr. Raju maintained his rigid stand on accepting the post and told reporters at his residence in Moida village in Nellimarla that he would decide only after feeling the pulse of his followers.

It may be recalled that Mr. Raju’s followers, including sarpanches, MPTC and ZPTC members, DCMS chairman K. Suryanarayana Raju, in Sathivada Assembly constituency had threatened to quit en masse if he was not inducted into the Cabinet. He was, however, pacified at last month’s party celebrations in Hyderabad by AICC general secretary and in-charge of party affairs in State Digvijay Singh.