By-elections not linked to Telangana demand, says Botsa

Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on Wednesday said that there was no link to by-elections and Telangana State issue in the State.

Talking to media persons, Botsa Satyanarayana said that the Telangana issue should not be linked with the by-elections and stated that both were different issues. He also dismissed reports that the outcome of by-election results would decide the formation of Telangana state. He said that the Congress High Command was seriously considering the Telangana State issue and would announce a decision at an appropriate time.

Responding to suspension of ruling Congress MPs from the Telangana region, the PCC chief stated that the MPs acted according to the situation that prevailed in the House.  

Stating that the list of aspirants for by-elections would be announced by the High Command within five days, he said that the Congress party would go for by-election campaign with the welfare programmes taken up during its regime and the development agenda and corruption of YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Stating that all senior leaders in the party would participate in the by-elections campaign, the PCC chief said that the party would be collectively held responsible for the outcome of elections. Expressing confidence over winning all the seats, he predicted that the Telugu Desam Party would be relegated to third position in the by-elections.