VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Ratna Bhavan, this was where the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) came into existence 98 years ago. Till 60 years ago, it was the state headquarters of the Congress Party. Then the state headquarters was shifted to Hyderabad. Now, the Andhra Ratna Bhavan all set to become the party headquarters in Andhra Pradesh once again.
The historic building - an important landmark in Vijayawada - will once again become the nerve centre for Congress activities in the state. The party workers are looking forward to the revival of the old glory of the party.
AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh will formally inaugurate the renovated office of APCC headquarters in presence of party national leaders Thirunavakarasu, Koppula Raju and several other state leaders. Later, he will also participate in the party state coordination committee meeting there.
APCC president N Raghuveera Reddy, who visited the newly renovated Andhra Ratna Bhavan, expressed his satisfaction over the works. Speaking to mediapersons on the occasion, he said he felt proud and fortunate to be working from a historic monument that had witnessed several stalwarts at work.
“This place was the hub for freedom struggle in the state and this is the birthplace of the Andhra Pradesh unit of the Congress party. I am happy to be here and am looking forward to work from here,” he said and added it will be a historic day for the Congress Party in the state.
Raghuveera said his immediate goal was to revive the party in the state by strengthening it at the grassroots level. He said the party would champion the cause of the poor.
“Coordination meeting, which will be attended by AICC incharges of the state including Digvijay Singh, will decide on the future course of action. The following day on February 20, there will be a state-level meeting of Congress Party’s SC, ST, BC and Minority leaders,” he said.
This will be followed by a two-day train the trainer programme from February 21. “We have identified seventy people for the programme. They will be divided into 25 teams and provided intensive training on various issues. In turn they will train the cadre at mandal and village level,” Raghuveera explained.
City Congress executive council will be announced at the meeting to be attended by AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh on Friday. The new executive body, which was approved by the APCC, will have 200 office bearers. The meeting will decide the future course of action for the City Congress.