After creating an impression that the Congress high command has almost decided to divide the state to contain YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s growing popularity in the state, the AICC leadership has now dropped enough hints that it is also considering forging an electoral alliance with Jagan’s YSR Congress.
None other than AICC emissary Vayalar Ravi dropped subtle hints in this regard, in sharp contrast to what he reportedly told two days ago to a four-member ministerial delegation of Seemandhra. He is reported to have said then that the Congress could at least be salvaged in Telangana if the state is split in the face of YSRC’s rising clout in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. When the ministers urged Ravi not to divide the state, he reportedly wanted to know how many seats the Congress would win if AP is kept united.
However, talking to reporters at AICC Chintan Shivir (brainstorming session) in Jaipur on Saturday, the AICC point man to the state did not rule out the possibility of the Congress having a truck with the fledgling YSRC in the state. Any electoral tie-up would be discussed during elections.
“As far as electoral understanding with YSRC is concerned, it will be discussed and decided by the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee,” he said.
A senior Congress leader and hardcore Telangana advocate explained this thus, “Our leadership’s final decision on Telangana issue will be determined by Jagan factor.”
“If YSRC comes forward for any electoral pact with the Congress, whether it is post-poll or tacit understanding, then our high command will not bifurcate the state and vice versa,” he added.
“Our party supremo Sonia Gandhi is busy with AICC affairs. Hence, she did not find time to discuss the issue of either Telangana or smaller states in the Chintan Shivir,” Vayalar Ravi said.
Meanwhile, reacting to Vayalar Ravi’s statement on possible electoral tie-up with the YSRC, MV Mysoora Reddy, a member of the YSRC political affairs committee, said, “We won’t forge any type of poll alliance with the Congress, which will hardly get any seats in the ensuing general elections.”