Sonia, Rahul Gandhi to visit AP next month to revive party?

Senior Congress leaders from Andhra Pradesh met party President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi and discussed the reasons for its rout in elections in the state and ways to revive the party there.

The leaders also said both have agreed to attend a conclave at a local level in July to boost the morale of the cadres and chalk out the roadmap for strengthening the party in Andhra Pradesh.

Three things were discussed. Firstly, the reasons for our failure in recent elections. Secondly, how to revive the party and the future roadmap. Thirdly, steps to be taken by the party to strengthen new states, PCC chief Raghuveera Reddy told reporters after meeting Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Reddy, accompanied by former Union minister K Chiranjeevi, also sought Sonia Gandhi to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for speedy implementation of incentives and packages given to Andhra Pradesh.

He also urged her to set up an implementation committee, which would be like a watchdog, comprising members of Rajya Sabha, to follow up early implementation of incentives announced for Andhra Pradesh.

On review of reasons for the debacle suffered by Congress in Andhra Pradesh, Reddy said this process has not yet been completed. The review has been completed in 11 out of 13 districts.

The review in remaining 2-3 districts will be completed in the next few days. Asserting confidence about winning future elections, Reddy said Congress has bounced back even after losing elections in 1982, 1985 and 1994.

We are wounded soldiers. We will fight like wounded soldiers, Reddy added. Outlining the way ahead, Reddy said his party will focus on strengthening its cadre in the state.

A day-long meeting will be held with zila parishad presidents and candidates between June 16-17 at Vijayawada to ascertain the reasons for the defeat in the recent elections.

That apart, he said a conference will be held in July in Andhra Pradesh which Rahul and Sonia Gandhi have agreed to attend, to boost the morale of more than 17,000-odd mandal-level and state Congress leaders.

We have invited both of them to come to this conference to encourage the Congress leaders at mandal level. Both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have agreed to attend this conference, Reddy added.

Sharing some of the reasons for the defeat of his party in the state, Reddy said one of the main reasons for the defeat of Congress was that the opposition has convinced the people that Congress was responsible for dividing the state.

We did not reach out to citizen while we gave free hand to the opposition... We failed to agressively drive home our view point at local camps, he said. Reddy also said Congress failed to communicate 10 years of UPA government's achievements to the people.

Besides, the party was not able to contest local elections, leading to fiasco and its failure. He also said there was an all-round buzz, including from some Congress leaders, that the party will lose and this affected traditional Congress voters as a result of which some of them voted for Jagan Mohan Reddy's party and some others for TDP.

Reddy, however, said he is confident of winning future elections as the party has substantial vote bank. They (voters) will come back if elections are held today. We are not angry nor scared. We have confidence, he said.

Congress is not the party born for elections alone. Except Communist, the rest of the parties are born during the election time for elections alone. Our immediate duty is to ensure good life to citizens, he said.