VIJAYAWADA: AICC general secretary and AP in-charge Oommen Chandy gave a call to all the Congress leaders who left the party to return to the parent party. Chandy held discussions with former Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at the latter’s residence in Hyderabad on Sunday.
The meeting with Kiran Kumar Reddy lasted for more than an hour. On the occasion, Chandy urged Kiran Kumar Reddy to return to the party.
“We have asked all the party leaders and workers, who left the party, to come back. Today, it is not only crucial period for the Congress, but also for the country. Our party president Rahul Gandhi is striving to unite all the secular and democratic forces to fight against those who are disregarding democratic values. For that the Congress has to be strengthened further and all those who left are invited to rejoin the party,” Chandy told reporters. When asked about Kiran Kumar Reddy’s re-entry, the former Kerala Chief Minister said the party has invited him and it is up to him to take a decision. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was standing beside Chandy, said he would announce his decision at an appropriate time.
According to party sources, Kiran Kumar Reddy’s re-entry to the Congress is already confirmed and that he will formally join the party in the presence AICC president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi soon.
It is confirmed that another former Congress MP GV Harsha Kumar will also return to the Congress. Sources said that talks are in progress with Konathala Ramakrishna, MV Mysoora Reddy, former MP Gyanendra Reddy and Lagadapati Rajagopal.
During his Sunday visit to Hyderabad, Chandy also met former Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who also served as Tamil Nadu Governor. It is learnt that Rosaiah was asked to participate more in the party meetings and extend his guidance.
When contacted, APCC president N Raghuveera Reddy said that the meeting with Oommen Chandy was mainly about his forthcoming visit to Andhra Pradesh. “Starting July 9 for five days, he will be interacting with party leaders and activists in five districts. On July 9, he will visit Krishna district, on July 10 Guntur, on July 11 Prakasam, on July 12 Nellore and on July 13 Chittoor. He wants to visit every district in the State and interact with in-charges of all 175 Assembly constituencies,” Raghuveera Reddy explained.