Sonia visit to AP only after flood situation improves

Hyderabad, Oct 3 :

 The proposed visit of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the United Progressive Alliance (UP) chairperson and All-India Congress Committee (AICC) president, and the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to the State has been put off till the flood situation improves.

The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president, Mr D Srinivas, told media persons here on Saturday that he made a personal request to both Mrs Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh to postpone their visit to the State as the current flood situation is grim and that the whole official machinery is completely involved in the relief and rehabilitation work. “Their visit at this time will only cause not only to the flood affected but also to the official machinery as the officials are totally engaged in taking up relief operations,” he stated.

He said that the membership drive in the State is going on well and that the exercise has been postponed in the three flood-hit districts of Kurnool, Mahboobnagar and Krishna.  “We will take up the enrolment process in these three districts after the flood situation improves. However, in other areas it will continue,” he explained.   

Asked about the troubles being encountered during the membership drive as the partymen are not actively taking part in the process, Mr Srinivas was dismissive of any such problems. “Some hiccups are common as the internal democracy in the Congress is more when compared to other parties. Though certain issues cropped up initially, they are no longer being raised in any quarter,” he said in an oblique reference to the succession issue.

The PCC chief is of the opinion that the Rosaiah administration is working well. “The tackling of the flood situation is exceedingly well,” he said adding that rising above political considerations, even the leaders of other political parties too are actively taking part in the flood relief works.