Even as the state Congress party leaders had been indulging in serious discussions since a week over naming a suitable candidate to face the YSR Congress Party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy in the ensuing by-elections for the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency, Minister for Handlooms and Textiles P Shankar Rao made light of the rebel Kadapa leader, saying that whoever started afresh would ultimately join the Congress party.
Referring to the Congress party as a ‘sea’, the Minister, who for reasons best known to him, did not take credence of Mr Jaganmohan Reddy and his popularity in the Kadapa district.
It was evident from the recently held MLC elections that the independent candidates backed by Mr Jaganmohan Reddy had a field day, trouncing the Congress and TDP nominees in three constituencies.
The three independents scoring in the MLC polls proved that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy could call the shots as desired.
It was more or less a precursor to the by-elections.
The recent debacle also shook the Congress High Command and the Minister spoke that his party would perform wonders in the coming by-elections in Kadapa district.
Reposing faith in the High Command, Dr Shankar Rao reiterated his stand that he would undertake a tour if need be in the Kadapa district at short notice to campaign for the party candidate.
At this juncture, when a poser came from the media persons present at the Secretariat, that the Congress had so far not named its nominee and that one of the TDP’s Kandula brothers was likely to be fielded against Mr Jaganmohan Reddy, the Minister jumped the question saying that Congress would take care of it.