Congress To Axe Erring Members

As part of an exercise to rope in the 5 legislators who had declared their loyalty to Jagan back into the Congress' fold, Chief Whip Bhatti Vikramarka on Wednesday met Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at the Secretariat.

Vikramarka had met the Chief Minister earlier on Tuesday, and then had a discussion with Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar over the issue.

The Chief Whip is understood to have met Jagan's loyalists A Amaranth Reddy and G Srikanth Reddy, to induce them into joining the Congress back.

So far, Budvel MLA Kamalamma has been convinced to stay back with the Congress.

The Congress' exercise apart, it is understood that the legislators who had won on the party ticket and had declared their loyalties to Jagan, have been contemplating sailing with the parent party, fearing their disqualification.

Deliberations have been going on for quite some time under the leadership of Kiran Kumar Reddy, that the leaders who had switched sides would not be spared.

High-level discussions have been going on to axe former ministers Konda Surekha, Balineni Srinivas Reddy and Pilli Subhashchandra Bose, as the contentious by-elections to the Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly seats are scheduled to be held shortly.

Going by certain reports that have surfaced in the Kadapa district, the campaign has been going in favour of the lone fighter, Jagan, despite the presence of the entire official machinery camping in the district.

The Congress cannot afford to take any chances in the ensuing elections, and it is a "do or die" business for a few party leaders including APCC chief D Srinivas, D L Ravindra Reddy and J C Diwakar Reddy.

Not to speak of the stakes of Kiran Kumar Reddy himself, who is involved in the most prestigious by-elections of his career till date.

Never before was a by-election fought with such high stakes and energy. Jagan has been giving sleepless nights to all concerned including TDP nominee M V Mysoora Reddy.

The disqualification issue at this juncture is bound to attract the attention of the Chief Election Commissioner of India. The decision rests with him, sources said.

But Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manhar is entitled to effect the said disqualification of those who had defied the Congress Party, and that is one of the reasons why Vikramarka has been making rounds between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Speaker, said another source.

The sooner the axe falls on the erring Congress legislators, the better for the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh, as it is believed that both TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu's and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy's horoscopes are not favourable after May. (INN)