PCC shortlists 22 RS aspirants

Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on Saturday informed that the party has shortlisted the names of 22 aspirants for Rajya Sabha elections to be held on March 30.

Talking to reporters at I-Bhimavaram in Akiveedul mandal of West Godavari district, Botsa said that the PCC has also recommended the candidature of Tirupati MLA K Chiranjeevi for the Rajya Sabha seat. He said that the Congress High Command might select four candidates from the list of aspirants.

The PCC chief said that the by-elections were a matter of prestige for the party, he hoped that the Congress candidates would win all the seats. He reiterated that the TDP would get third position in the by-elections to be held in seven Assembly constituencies on March 18.

Meanwhile, Botsa called upon the youth to join politics to take the State on progressive path on all fronts. “The development of the State will be possible only with the active participation of youth in the politics,” he said. "The youth should come forward to work alongside Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and strengthen his leadership," he said.

The PCC chief stated that the party would organize road shows in Undi, Bhimavaram, Palakollu, Achanta and Narsapuram constituencies in West Godavari district to highlight the achievements of government and its welfare programmes. Apart from highlighting the government schemes, he said that the party would seek suggestions from the people for better implementation of programmes.

Botsa rubbished the media reports that the outcome of election results in five states indicates the strengthening of regional parties. Though Congress failed to win in some constituencies, it has improved its strength and percentage of voters, he said.