"CM Not Responsible For Debacle"

Rajya Sabha member K Chiranjeevi, on Saturday, stated there was no need for anyone to resign from their posts following the debacle of the Congress in the by-elections held for 7 Assembly segments in Andhra Pradesh.

Talking to media persons after emerging from a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Chiranjeevi said that the results were in favour of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi as the Telangana sentiment was strong in the region.

Stating that by-elections were held under certain conditions, he expressed confidence that the Congress would win in the upcoming elections to 18 Assembly constituencies, including the Tirupati seat, which was vacated by him.

Chiranjeevi said that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was in no way responsible for the debacle of the party in the by-elections, and lauded him for working efficiently in the taking the state on the path of growth.

Responding to a question on who would be fielded from the Tirupathi Assembly constituency vacated by him, he said that names of the aspirants were yet to be finalized.

Responding to Minister for Mines Galla Aruna Kumari, who declared that her industrialist son Galla Jayadev would be the Congress candidate for the upcoming Tirupathi by-election, Chiranjeevi feigned ignorance about her announcement.

Chiranjeevi said that he had came to New Delhi to thank Sonia Gandhi for elevating him to a Rajya Sabha membership. However, he said that his meeting with Sonia Gandhi did not have any political significance.

"Nothing about me getting a Cabinet minister's post has transpired in our discussions," he claimed.

The newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP said that he had discussed with Sonia Gandhi the outcome of the by-election and the latest political situation AP.

He said that Sonia Gandhi had made certain suggestions to improve the party's position in AP.

Chiranjeevi said that he had assured Sonia Gandhi that he would make efforts to strengthen the party and ensure a victory for the Congress in the upcoming by-elections. (INN)