Congress bracing for local body polls said Sake Sailajanath in Tirupati

Tirupati: Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) is bracing up for local body elections and would contest all the seats in the election of Zilla Parishads, Mandal Parishads, municipalities and corporations, said newly appointed PCC president Sake Sailajanath.

Addressing the first meeting after the recent revamping of the State Congress party here on Friday, Sailajanath said the senior Congress leaders were directed to contest the elections and do their best to win more seats for the rejuvenation of the party.

Unlike the 2019 elections, this time the party will show its mettle and will make a comeback in the State, he averred.

Hitting hard at the ruling YSR Congress party, he accused the party of adopting double standards with regard to CAA. The 22 MPs of the party supported the Bill in Parliament but now they were opposing it in the State for the sake of Muslim votes, he alleged.

Sailajanath dared Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to pass a resolution in the State Assembly against CAA like many other States did, if the party really opposed it and had concern for Muslim minorities.

The TDP is not different and following the YSRCP by opposing it in the State but its MPs voted in support of CAA and helped the Centre make the legislation. The new PCC chief said he along with the two working presidents of the party began tours of district with Tirupati (Chittoor district) to meet the loyal party activists and to instill confidence among them on reviving the party in the State.

Senior leader Dr Chinta Mohan said Thullur, where capital (Amaravati) is located, is a cursed place and whoever visited the place in the past lost the Chief Minister's post including Bhavanam Venkatrami Reddy, Nadendla Bhaskar Rao, N T Rama Rao, N Chandrababu Naidu and present CM Jagan Mohan Reddy too is facing lot of problems. It is where about 175 Dalits were massacred by the zamindar of area, he said.

He said people in the State were disillusioned with Jagan Mohan Reddy's rule within six months. The were now saying 'Povali Jagan - Maakoddu Jagan,' he said criticising the YSRCP government for its anti-people policies.

PCC working presidents N Tulasi Reddy and Mastan Vali and others also spoke. Party leaders, constituency in-charges and activists from various places participated.