Congress campaign lags behind

HYDERABAD: Bogged down by selection of party nominees for the general elections for more than a fortnight, Congress leaders are clearly lagging behind in terms of launching its campaign.

The lengthy deliberations and frequent consultations with central leadership over seat selection have taken a heavy toll on the party’s campaign as 15 days have been lost. With leaders and actors of Telugu Desam Party and the Praja Rajyam hitting the campaign trail in full earnest, the Congress party’s poll campaign is invisible.

The maiden election campaign by actor Junior NTR and road shows by his uncle Nandamuri Balakrishna have breathed new found enthusiasm among the TDP cadres. The PR workers are enthused by the electioneering by its chief K. Chiranjeevi, now in Krishna district.

Strangely, the Congress party is yet to get its act together. It is understood that the issue cropped up during Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s interaction with his close aides. Dr. Reddy, who is the party’s star campaigner, notwithstanding the presence of actors from the Telugu film world, is set to launch the campaign from Friday by holding a full-fledged press conference, the first one after returning to Hyderabad.

Party sources said Dr. Reddy is scheduled to embark on his road shows from either March 24 or 25 from Chevella. During his whirlwind tour, Dr. Reddy is slated to address roadside meetings. Plans have been chalked out to cover at least 160 Assembly constituencies. He is scheduled to take a break for two days, when he files his nomination from Pulivendula Assembly constituency. In all likelihood, his campaign will conclude in Nandikotkur. Interestingly, he had launched the 2004 campaign from Chevella where Mines and Geology Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy was the nominee and ended it at Nandikotkur, where another woman candidate Gouru Charita Reddy was fielded.

Sources pointed out that Dr. Reddy’s campaign would be aggressive in Telangana region, where he is expected to reiterate the party’s stand on the statehood. With development and welfare as its poll plank, the Chief Minister is gearing up to explain to the electorate what promises he had made in 2004 and what all have been fulfilled by his government.

To invite Sonia

The party is also planning to invite AICC president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi to campaign for at least a day. A senior APCC functionary said that party chief D. Srinivas will tour Telangana districts.