Interview with Andhra Congress chief Neelakanthapuram Raghuveera Reddy:
Why do you think you were selected to be APCC chief?
In the Congress there are many senior, experienced, capable leaders. Perhaps the party high command thought that I will successfully bring the Congress, which is in deep trouble, (safely) to shore.
Do you think that the high command has made you the captain of a sinking ship?
No, no, not at all. The Congress party has 127 years of history. Sometimes the party will win and sometimes it will be defeated. The Congress is a service-oriented party; elections are one part of the process. Win or lose, the Congress is always with the people and at their service.
Are you confident that the Congress will come to power in the new Andhra Pradesh state?
After the state’s bifurcation, the Congress party is facing a crisis in the Andhra Pradesh region. According to me, no party will come to power on its own in Andhra Pradesh. It will be a hung assembly.
In the hung assembly will the Congress get the chance to form the government?
I cannot tell at this moment. A clear picture will emerge only after the elections.
In Seemandhra many Cabinet ministers, including the Chief Minister and several MLAs, have left the party. What do you have to say about this?
It is very unfortunate. The Congress high command trusted them and gave them responsibilities. But after enjoying power they have betrayed the party. Everyone should stand behind the party when it is in trouble. I am calling everyone who has left the Congress to return.
If they come back can you assure them party tickets?
Yes, happily. If any leader wants to come back we welcome them with the red carpet.
The Congress party did not file nominations in many wards even in the municipal elections. How will the party get candidates for the assembly and Lok Sabha elections?
I agree there is a gap in the party after many senior leaders left. But the Congress party has second and third line leaders in every district.
Only the leaders have left; the cadre is with the party. I am touring districts along with senior party leaders from March 21, to identify candidates. There will be no problem for candidates.
You have said that those who contest in the present assembly elections will be given tickets in the 2019 elections too.
Yes. The Congress party is in trouble now. There are sincere leaders and workers still in the party. We will recognise them and give them party tickets in the upcoming general election. The same candidates will be given tickets in the 2019 elections also. I am making it clear: those who return to the party now will be given tickets, but those who return to the party after the elections or just before 2019 elections will not be given any tickets.
The Congress has no mass leader. How are you planning your election campaign?
Yes, we have no mass leader. That is why we are planning to tour with all the senior leaders united.
How about Mr Chiranjeevi?
He is very useful and an advantage to the party.
Do you think be will be affected if his brother Pawan Kalyan floats a political party?
Nowadays wife and husband are in different parties.
Do you think that the Centre’s package for Seemandhra will be sufficient?
All the Cabinet ministers and MLAs were in the dark about the state division issue. The high command discussed it only with the Chief Minister. We asked a number of times about the state’s division, and the Chief Minister told us that the state will remain united. And we all believed him. But after the state was divided, he left the party. If we had known earlier that the state would be divided, we would have fought for a better package.
All Opposition parties are accusing the Congress of dividing the state. How will you counter the opposition?
All political parties agreed to the state’s division. The Congress was the last party to take a decision on state division. But after the Congress high command took the decision, other parties like the TDP and YSRC made a u-turn. We will expose this to the people of Andhra Pradesh. All parties were responsible for the state’s division.
