Bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh dealt a fatal political blow to the Congress Party in the State in the 2014 general election which was reflected in the desecration of the statues of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in Anantapur.
It literally wiped out the memories of the icons of the party when either their statues were either demolished at prominent locations in the city or dragged down the main thoroughfares. News photos from the ‘Samaikya Andhra’ movement were akin to the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s statue in Firdos Square in Baghdad shortly after the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
People voted with vengeance with the TDP bagging 12 of the 14 Assembly seats and the YSR Congress the other two.
However, in five years’ time things have changed so much that the statues of both the leaders are being re-installed and will be unveiled in December in time for the next general elections.
Congress leader and former Minister representing the Singanamala Assembly constituency says the party has made a place for itself in the minds of the people and that it is bouncing back with a bang.
To justify his comments, District Congress Committee leaders like Dada Gandhi points out that the recent unveiling of the statues at Gooty by former Chief Minister Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy amid fanfare was an indication of the acceptance of the party. All this was happening in the face of alleged failure of the TDP in developing the region.
Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy in his public address after unveiling the statues had said “people of Andhra Pradesh want Indiramma Rajyam [Indira Gandhi’s rule].”
Pointing out to Sri Krishnadevaraya’s statue just behind these two statues, he said like people revere the ruler even after 500 years, Indira Gandhi and the Congress rule would be remembered for the next 500 years.