Date:26/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/26/stories/2008042653020300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Congress gets into election mode

Correspondent

APCC chief launches ‘Vijayabheri’

Thanks Sonia Gandhi for reposing faith in him
Confident of party’s win in the coming polls

VIZIANAGARAM: D. Srinivas, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president, launched election campaign christened ‘Congress Vijayabheri’ approximately a year ahead of the Assembly elections at Kumaram village in Jami mandal on Friday evening.

Mr. Srinivas appealed to the large gathering who were mobilised by the party leaders to vote for the Congress once again in the ensuing elections.

Mr. Srinivas said, as he belonged to the Backward Class, he chose, as a sentiment, to address the first party meeting after becoming APCC president from the backward district like Vizianagaram.

He said that he was happy when AICC president Sonia Gandhi reposed faith in him and made him APCC chief and added that he would not let her down.

Welfare measures

Detailing the welfare measures that the Rajasekhara Reddy Government had introduced during the last four years,

Mr. Srinivas exuded confidence that he, along with Dr. Reddy, would ensure the party’s victory in the next general elections.

V. Kishore Chandra Deo, AICC general secretary, said that development would be possible if only the same party ruled both at the Centre and in the State. As the Congress-led UPA was at the Centre, the State government was getting funds for housing, pension and other schemes.

DCC president V.V. Ramarao presided. Minister S. Vijayarama Raju and Botcha Satyanarayana, Lok Sabha member Botcha Jhansi Lakhsmi and MLAs spoke.