Hyderabad: Former PCC chief D. Srinivas, who had joined the Congress in 1969, said he was guided by his “inner voice” to quit the party, which he did to “protect his self-respect.” He said was offering his support to make the state “Bangaru Telangana”, and not with an eye on posts.
“There are many reasons for my quitting the Congress. I got posts but I also faced humiliation. I care for self-respect. It’s a sad day in my life. The Congress is a great party and I have high regard for Sonia Gandhi. But some middlemen hijacked the party,” Mr Srinivas told mediapersons.
“Digvijay Singh cannot stoop down to such a level that he can say he has taken my consent on issuing a ticket to Akula Lalitha (for the MLC polls). I have no grouse against Ms Lalitha. He is a bluffer. How dare he says I suggested her name? He is trying to save himself now,” Mr Srinivas said.
Mr Srinivas said that Telangana Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao was ready for merger for the party with the Congress in 2004.
“He (Mr Rao) may have put some conditions, but he met AICC president Sonia Gandhi and offered to merge the party. But Delhi managers failed to grab the opportunity. People supposed to handle the deal did not do so properly, and the merger fell through. We worked in tandem to achieve statehood,” he said.
“AP leaders are hatching conspiracies and creating obstacles in TS, the latest being Section 8. This should be stopped by all parties,” he cautioned. He said peace prevailed in Hyderabad and there was no need for Section 8.
“Due credit should go to Mr Rao for achieving statehood and Ms Sonia Gandhi for granting it. We have to set aside petty politics and help in the state’s development,” he said.
Asked if he would refuse an MLC nomination or any post if offered, he replied, “I never did pairavi for a post. I have character and conviction. I stood by the Congress during thick and thin.”
