VIJAYAWADA: The Congress has decided to contest the 2019 elections alone and field candidates in all the 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in the State. Disclosing it to reporters here on Sunday, APCC chief N Raghuveera Reddy said they were not looking for any pre-poll alliances.
“Our pact and alliance are with people,” he said. Exuding confidence that the UPA will emerge victorious in 2019 and form the government at the Centre, the Congress leader predicted that it would be a hung Assembly in the State.
“The fear of defeat is making TDP, BJP and YSRC restless. They cannot win on their own, hence they are making baseless rumours to tarnish the image of the Congress,” he said, referring to recent reports that some of its leaders have approached the ruling TDP. On the possibility of early elections, he said it did not matter to them when the elections are held.
“The real reason for the BJP being eager for early elections is that it is afraid of defeat in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. In 2014, the Congress lost in those three States, which affected the outcome of the Parliament elections. Now, the BJP is staring at defeat in these States, hence it is anxious,” he explained.
Raghuveera Reddy said focus now was on strengthening the party in the State and the Congress high command has appointed Oommen Chandy, former CM of Kerala, as AICC in-charge of AP. “He will be touring the State starting tomorrow (Monday) and in five phases will cover all 175 Assembly constituencies. Purpose of the tour is to infuse enthusiasm in the party cadre, chalk out the strategy for the upcoming elections and bring back those leaders who left the party and those who remained silent,” the APCC chief said.
Taking exception to the YSRC MLAs’ failure to attend Assembly session, he said they should attend the forthcoming session. “Do they want to continue as MLAs for salaries, TA and DA?” he questioned.
Raghuveera sees UPA-3
UPA will emerge victorious in 2019 and form the government at the Centre
It will be a hung Assembly in AP
Kiran’s re-entry
Former CM Kiran Kumar Reddy will rejoin the party on July 13 in the presence of Rahul Gandhi