Jagan is strong in some segments, admits Congress

Union Overseas Affairs Minister and APCC observor Vayalar Ravi on Monday claimed that the Congress party would win a majority of seats in the by-elections scheduled to be held for 18 assembly and one Lok Sabha seats on June 12.

Talking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan, Vayalar Ravi admitted that the YSR Congress party was strong in some constituencies where by-elections were being held. However, he expressed confidence that the Congress party would win a majority of seats. He said that the Congress leaders were participating in the by-elections campaign with vigour and hope that they would overcome the challenge posed by Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Vayalar Ravi said that the voters in majority of seats were satisfied and happy with the welfare schemes being implemented by the State and Central Governments for their welfare. He said the beneficiaries of welfare schemes would certainly vote for the ruling party in the ensuing by-elections.

The PCC Observer said that he was in constant touch with all the leaders who are participating in the by-election campaign. He said he would participate in the campaign along with PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana in other constituencies for the next few days.

Vayalar Ravi also ridiculed the claim of YSR Congress leaders that they sacrificed their elected posts for the cause of farmers. He said the people should realise the factors that led to Jagan Mohan Reddy's exit from the Congress party and why by-election was imposed upon the people by his group.

Regarding Telangana issue, Vayalar Ravi condemned the statement of Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao that Sonia Gandhi would announce a decision on the statehood issue in the next three months. He said it might be KCR's personal view and the Congress party does not endorse his statement.

Reacting to threats by Congress MLAs and MPs from the Telangana region that they would resign from their posts in July, he said while the PCC was in touch with the MLAs, the Central leaders are trying to convince the MPs. He said it was not the right time to speak about the Telangana issue.

Vayalar Ravi also termed the CBI questioning some ministers in connection with the Jagan's assets case as a routine affair. He said the ministers were part of the government and if something goes wrong, the probing agency could question them for information and details.