In a veiled warning to fence-sitters, chief minister NKiran Kumar Reddy, on Monday, advised disgruntled elements in the party torealise that the party is not surviving on leaders. “As leaders, we haveto note that the party is surviving because of workers. If leaders think theparty is surviving because of them, they are in an illusion,” the chiefminister said.
Kiran Reddy, whoaddressed party workers from Addanki in the morning and those from Jaggayyapetin the evening, sought to stress the point that the Congress would play a keyrole in the next elections.
The audience comprised those who had been elected presidentsof the primary agriculture cooperative credit societies from both Addanki andJaggayyapet.
In the morning, addressing workers from Addanki, he said:”Ifsome old leaders leave the party, new leaders will join History has proved this. In 1977, around 150MLAs left the party. But, Congress romped home with two thirds majority in thenext elections,” the chief minister said.
It may be recalled that Addanki MLA GottipatiRavikumar left Congress and joined YSRC recently. The chief minister’sremarks were pointed not only at Ravikumar but also several MLAs who weresitting on the fence. Recently, PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana said theCongress may expel nine Congress MLAs.
Reacting to the Addanki MLA’s decision to join YSRC, thechief minister said: “Vinasa kale vipareeta buddhi (when it is doom time, one’sthinking gets skewed). “I do not understand why Ravikumar left theCongress. The YSRC has already announced a candidate for Addanki,” thechief minister wondered. Later in the evening, the chief minister said 30percent of Congress voters never approach the government, MLAs or MPs for anywork.
However, on the day of polling, they are there at thepolling stations casting their voters in favour of the Congress, he said. “Iam sure the Congress would romp home both in the State and at the nationallevel in 2014. Rahul Gandhi will become the prime minister. This isthe opinion of the people,” he said.