Date:20/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/20/stories/2008082055300600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

APCC chief says BCs will be given due representation

But they can’t get ticket in proportion to their population

“Emergence of new parties, no bother to Congress”
Declines comment on Chiranjeevi’s political entry

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president D. Srinivas has expressed the party’s inability to allot seats to Backward Classes and other sections in proportion to their population.

He, however, asserted in an interaction with reporters here on Tuesday that the BCs would get the maximum number of seats so that they are duly represented in all the districts.

Mr. Srinivas said Congress party was not concerned over the emergence of new political parties as the government initiated welfare and development schemes covering all sections in an unprecedented scale. However, what was a matter of concern was the manner in which BCs were being utilised by other parties.

The Congress, he said, would not decide its priorities based on the entry of new political parties. He declined to comment on film star Chiranjeevi’s entry into politics saying that he would react after he announced his party’s policies on various important issues. The PCC president said the welfare measures initiated by the government were reaching out to a majority of people, but it would not be possible to fulfil all needs of all sections. In addition to launching several schemes for BCs and weaker sections, the Congress government was exploring options to pass a resolution in the Assembly seeking 33 per cent reservation for the BCs.

‘People happy’

Asked about the film star’s claims on ushering in a Santoshandhra Pradesh (happy Andhra Pradesh), he said: “I don’t see any dissatisfaction among the people.”