Leaders cherish seniors’ absence

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, March 31, 2014: Though there are reports that Congress will face a rout in Andhra Pradesh, surprisingly in Vizag, Congress leadership received 120 applications from the aspirants to contest from 15 assembly and 3 Lok Sabha seats in the district.

These aspirants, mostly second rung leaders feel that it is an opportunity for them and will help them in future to establish as leaders in the absence of prominent leaders. Most of the prominent faces left Congress to join either YSRC or TD after the Congress led UPA took the decision to divide the state. The Congress aspirants feel that the national party has future if not immediately, but after a decade.

Of the total seven Congress MLAs in the district only 2 remained in the party. Only former minister, P Balaraju and former government whip, Dronamraju  Srinivas Rao are the prominent faces now in the party. It was these two leaders who have to sweat it out with other second rung leaders to make arrangements for the Congress leaders Bus Yatra in Vizag.

 Though the Bus Yatra proved to be a flop show in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, Vizag workers meet has saved some grace to the party giving hope to the leaders who wanted to be with Congress.

“I have chosen Congress much before the decision on state bifurcation was out. It’s not fair to desert the party when it is in troubles. Am not an opportunist. As I chose to be with Congress I will continue. I feel critical and forward looking legislations were actually done by Congress.  Now everybody’s focus should be on rebuilding the successor state of Andhra Pradesh as the state bifurcation is a reality. This can happen only with the Congress leadership having the blend of both youth and veteran faces. I could have too defected to other parties like others, but wanted to be with the Congress, whether it comes to power or not is secondary. I strongly feel UPA III will be formed. Even if we sit in opposition we will not stop serving people,” said Thota Vijayalakshmi, whose name is doing the rounds to be the Congress candidate for either Vizag or Anakapalle loksabha seat.

Vijayalakshmi, who is the party farmers wing state co chairperson, has been with the Congress for a decade and missed the chance to contest for Pendurthy assembly constituency in 2009 polls. 

Though her candidature was initially announced for Pendurthy seat in the list released by AICC, in a later development, sitting MLA, Gandi Babji was given a chance and he lost to a PRP candidate, Panchakarla Ramesh Babu. Vijayalakshmi is one example that it’s a chance for the second rung, grass root and other neglected group.