New Delhi

Congress not keen on alliance, says YSR

NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has said the Congress can retain its government in the ensuing election on its own and it was targeting to have more than 51 per cent of the vote share.

“We are ready to go it alone in the election; however if anyone expressed their willingness to join hands with the Congress or have seat adjustment we can think of it,” he said here on Tuesday. He made it clear that the party on its own would not approach anyone for an electoral alliance.

Talking to mediapersons, Dr. Reddy said the Congress was a mighty party. As the people had benefited a lot due to its numerous welfare programmes they would naturally support it. There was no household in the State wherein at least one family member had not been benefited under one scheme or the other of the Congress regime, he said. In the last 60 years, the Congress never had seat adjustment with any party except in 2004 (it joined hands with TRS then). “People are saying that it would be like committing a sin if they do not vote for Congress after receiving so many benefits from the Congress government.”

On Telangana, he said it was not a simple issue to be decided immediately.

The Congress high command and the UPA government were seized of the matter and trying to arrive at a consensus with various stake-holders. The party was clear that in the process of solving one problem a new problem should not crop up. “Recently, when I visited West Godavari, leaders there were saying Bhadrachalam division is part of Godavari district. They want Bhadrachalam to be given back if Telangana is to be separated. River Sabarai merges with Godavari in Bhadrachalam. And there are demands for Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra.”

The issue could have been solved by now if the second State Reorganisation Commission was appointed in 2004.

The Congress was leading the United Progressive Alliance and it had to depend on allies for support. “You know former UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had opposed Telangana when he visited Andhra Pradesh recently. UPA is dependent on his support.”

He denied that Congress leader in charge of Andhra Pradesh, M. Veerappa Moily, was influenced by him on Telangana issue. He was a senior man and former Karnataka Chief Minister. “It would be ridiculous to say he would be blindly supporting me on the issue.”

Dr. Reddy said he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Union Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and seek higher Central assistance to various projects in the State.

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