The Congress party’s fears of a nearrout in Andhra Pradesh in the forthcoming parliamentary and Assembly elections next year have been confirmed.
An independent survey commissioned by the party has presented an alarming picture of all its central ministers losing in divided Andhra Pradesh and warned of a possible rebellion in the top echelons of the state leadership.
The survey report confirms the worst fears of MPs and MLAs as it predicts a public backlash over bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. At present, Congress holds 31 of 42 Lok Sabha seats in united Andhra Pradesh.
The survey shows that in the new state of Andhra, Congress would be routed getting a maximum of 4-5 seats. What is worse is that the survey presents a bleak picture for all the central ministers.
Andhra Pradesh is represented well in the Council of Ministers with eight central ministers -- V Kishore Chandra Deo, Chiranjeevi, M M Pallam Raju, J D Seelam, D Purandeswari, Panabaka Lakshmi, K S Rao, K Kruparani.
The survey says all of them are likely to lose as there is a feeling amongst people that they did not fight actively for the cause of Samaikyandhra (united Andhra). The survey report, however, isn’t surprising for Andhra MPs.
A senior minister told ET, “This is exactly what we have been telling the party high command. The party must look at sentiments on the ground. It will obviously have an adverse affect.” So far, no central minister has resigned despite demands from their electorate. The Congress had bitten the bullet on Telangana with similar electoral considerations.
It has feared in rout in Andhra Pradesh and the party had aimed at limiting its losses only to Seemandhra and Rayalaseema regions by bifurcating the state. Congress’ calculation was that with bifurcation it might lose badly in the new state of Andhra but it would corner a lion’s share in alliance with Telangana Rashtra Samiti in the 17 Lok Sabha seats of Telangana.
However, the survey is presenting a very difficult situation for Congress in Andhra. The party has been given an input that electoral losses could be limited if the status of Hyderabad could be considered – an option Congress is unwilling to consider as it would be unacceptable in Telangana.
When contacted Deo told ET, “The demand of people of Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema is for a united state. The entire region is on the boil. Government work has come to a standstill.
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