HYDERABAD: Noting that the Congress has got fewer Assembly seats than in 2004 due to local factors, Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy today exuded confidence that the Congress’ victory would become more emphatic in the 2014 elections as the number of beneficiaries would increase due to implementation of various government programmes.
“In the recent elections people have supported the Congress as they were impressed by the schemes like pensions, Aarogyasri, Rs.2-a-kg rice etc. By next elections (in 2014) 85 percent of irrigation projects proposed under Jalayagnam, Indiramma (housing) targets would be completed.
Real fruits would reach the people by then.
“The number of beneficiaries would increase due to these programmes,’’ he said at a PCC meeting attended by PCC vice-presidents, treasurer, general secretaries and presidents of district and city Congress committees here today.
It is learnt that the Chief Minister has expressed dissatisfaction at the party not winning the expected number of Assembly seats in the just-held polls.
“Though I targeted to win 236 seats in Assembly elections, my internal assessment was that the Congress could get at least one seat more than what we got in 2004. In fact, false propaganda against the Congress had resulted in fewer seats going to the Congress in the secondphase elections.
Besides, caste and community factors also shown its impact on the party due to emergence of parties like Praja Rajyam.
Long-serving MLAs faced defeat due to local factors. There is a need to rectify loopholes, if any. As many as 14 ministers have lost the election,’’ he observed.
PCC president D Srinivas, who presided over the meeting, urged the Chief Minister not to fill nominated posts with persons who allegedly involved in anti-party activities or acted like `middlemen’. Besides taking stringent action against those involved in anti-party activities, there was a need to recognise the services of those who strove for Congress victory, he noted.
The PCC chief called upon the cadre to gear up for the elections on June 16 to three Zilla Parishad and 43 MPTC constituencies in 18 districts.
He said that he would tour all districts and hold review meetings from June 12.
Asked about Opposition parties’ decision to field a candidate for the Speaker’s post, the PCC chief said that he would leave it to their wisdom.
“If the TDP intends to fight the Speaker’s election it is welcome to do so. Anyway they are going to lose.
Already three to four parties have extended their support to the Congress and congratulated its candidate N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Usually, unanimous election would take place for such a post’’, he observed.