AMARAVATI: Full excitement has returned in the Congress partyfold as party high command has set its eyes on reviving the party’s fortunes in one of its yesteryears strongholds. Analysts believe that the success of newly appointed general secretary (party affairs incharge), Oommen Chandy’s district tours is also an indication of party gaining strength.
Party offices in districts, which has literally worn a deserted look since the Congress faced its worst debacle in history in the 2014 general elections, started seeing some activity now. Although, it is too early to predict that Congress is fully ready to regain its past glory, the brimming party cadres at party offices is something to watch in the coming months.
Curiously, a recent survey carried out by Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) and Lokniti has put the party leadership in the state on cloud-nine as the survey found that Congress is set to get at least 17% vote share in the next elections. The Congress secured just around 2.5-3% vote share in the 2014 elections. The CSDS-Lokniti survey said that Congress is getting its voters back from upper-caste communities like Brahmins, Vysyas, Reddys and Kapus. It is also getting its vote share back from SC communities.
Thanks to the new found enthusiasm, state party leadership is fully confident of fielding strong candidates in all the175 Assembly segments and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies. Although, party affairs incharge Oommen Chandy had declared that there would be no tie-up with any political party, party circles are agog with discussions about Congress joining hands with some secular parties. “All the enthusiasm appearing in Congress is steered by Chandrababu Naidu. This has been sensed by the lower rung cadre of Congress. Chandrababu Naidu is trying to see that the votes of Congress are not transferred to YSRC. It is too early to predict as to what happens at the time of elections as much water will flow,” observed Professor DAR Subramanyam, retired principal of Mahatma Gandhi College. Congress leaders from rural constituencies are openly saying that they are keen to contest the next elections chiefly with a hope to get funding from friendly political parties. “I am seriously thinking of backing Congress candidate if they are capable of splitting the votes from rival YSRC camp. There is nothing wrong as winning the election is my priority,” a TDP legislator told TOI on condition of anonymity. Buzz is that many TDP legislators are busy finding out a suitable candidate to be fielded on a Congress ticket keeping in view sociological equations.
APCC spokesperson Kolanukonda Sivaji summed up saying that Congress is willing to go with any secular party that takes on Narendra Modi’s BJP. He rubbished talk of Congress taking TDP’s support to regain its hold. “People have realized that no one is really serious and committed about getting SCS to AP except Congress. Why should we depend on the parties that ditched AP?” he asked.
(Representative image)
