DL Not Interested In MP Seat

With the results of the Kadapa by-elections round the corner, the Congress' candidate for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, D L Ravindra Reddy, on Thursday has made quite a surprising statement: "I never was interested to compete in the by-elections, but I was forced to do so because of the orders passed by the Congress High Command."

The Mydukur MLA was finalised as the Congress' contender after the party failed to convince one of the Kandula brothers (who had joined Congress in early April 2011) to jump into the fray. DL and CM Kiran Kumar Reddy were spotted frequenting the residences of the brothers, trying to convince them to compete in the by-polls.

DL extensively campaigned in the district, and had expressed confidence that the Congress party would emerge victorious in the fight for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat and the Pulivendula Assembly seat.

One could discern the signs of trouble soon after the completion of polling in the district. DL had filed a complaint with the CM stating that his fellow ministers had deserted him during the campaigns, and that they had refused to stir out of their guest houses in Kadapa. He said he did not receive any support from the ministers in conducting campaigns.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, DL stated that he was satisfied with his position as an MLA, and that he did not wish for the MP berth.

"It does not matter if you are an MLA or an MP if all you want to do is to serve the people," stated the Mydukur minister.

However, given the timing of such statements, one can not help but wonder is this is an indication that the Congress doubts its performance in the by-elections. Could this be a foresighted damage control measure?