Date:07/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/07/stories/2007070760450600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TRS, MIM stay away from Pratibha’s meeting

Hyderabad: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti and MIM leaders stayed away from a meeting organised by the Congress for the UPA Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil here on Friday.

The TRS leaders and MIM representatives were conspicuous by their absence. While TRS president K. Chandrasekhara Rao avoided meeting the Congress leaders and left on a tour of Karimnagar district, the MIM leaders reportedly stayed away objecting to the recent controversial remarks made by Mrs. Patil on wearing of ‘burqa’.

Elected representatives of the Communist Party of India led by party MP Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy were present. The CPI (M) leaders, who were busy in their State committee meeting, could not make it. But later, party MP Madhu and CPI (M) floor leader Nomula Narasimhaiah met Mrs. Patil.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Digvijay Singh played down the absence of TRS and MIM leaders and said that the party leaders were already in touch with the two parties.

“We are confident of their support to secular forces and vote for Mrs. Patil,” he added.

Mrs. Patil accompanied by senior Congress leaders arrived at the Jubilee Hall, where she addressed the Congress MLA’s and MPs.

Senior Congress leaders N. Janardhana Reddy, G. Venkatswamy, M. Satyanarayana Rao, Union Minister P. Pallam Raju, State Ministers and others were present.