Date:10/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/10/stories/2008051050260100.htm

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Congress meet lasts just 30 minutes

Bypolls: eight key MPs absent at important meeting convened by PCC president

Photo: Satish. H

Key MPs missing: Congress meeting in progress to discuss party’s strategy for byelections, in Hyderabad on Friday. Senior Telangana MPs did not attend the meeting.

HYDERABAD: Eight senior Congress MPs were absent at an important meeting convened by the AP Congress Committee president D. Srinivas to discuss the party’s strategy for the byelections in Telangana.

In their absence, the meeting that was attended by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and just five MPs, lasted 30 minutes.

The APCC chief, however, said that not much should be read into the absence of MPs. Those who did not turn up were S. Jaipal Reddy, Renuka Chowdary, both Union Ministers, G.Venkataswamy, K. Keshava Rao, V. Hanumantha Rao, D.Vithal Rao, Madhu Yaskhi and G. Sanjeeva Reddy.

Campaign duty

Mr. Srinivas explained that Mr. Venkataswamy had left for USA while Dr. Keshava Rao and Renuka Chowdary were drafted for election purpose in Karnataka.

Similarly, Mr.Vithal Rao and Madhu Yaskhi were on campaign duty in Jadcherla and Dichpally Assembly constituencies.

The MPs, who attended the meeting, assured that they would work wholeheartedly for the party nominees. They were Mr. Anjan Kumar Yadav, Nandi Yellaiah, Sarvey Satyanaryana, Girish Sanghi and M.A.Khan.