In-charge of Andhra Pradesh State Congress Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad will arrive in the city on a two-day visit on May 16.
Mr Azad is visiting the state for the first time after he assumed responsibility of Party Affairs of the state and his visit assumes importance after the drubbing received by party candidates in the recent by-elections to Kadapa Parliamentary and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies.
During his two-day visit, Mr Azad will hold intense discussions with Pradesh Congress Committee chief D Srinivas, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, his Cabinet colleagues and MLAs on the latest political situation in the state and discuss organizational matters.
According to sources, Mr Azad will be briefed on the MLAs indirectly extending support to YSR Congress Party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy and consequences on the state government in the event that they decide to pitch their lot with the newly-formed party.
Mr Azad will also take a decision on axing of four Congress MLAs, who are aligned with Mr Jaganmohan Reddy and have already been served with show-cause notice under Anti Defection Law.
The High Command’s representative will also elicit the opinion of Congress leaders on the allotment Ministerial berths to Praja Rajyam Party, which is about to be merged with the Congress.
Sources say that the Congress leaders are most likely to complain against the style of functioning of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy during their meetings with Mr Azad.
Mr Azad, in all likelihood, will publicly give a call to party cadre to strengthen the party at grassroots level in all districts and effectively tackle the issues emerging on regional lines.
However, sources say that behind closed doors, the High Command’s representative will do his best to keep the Congress flock together, especially the political ‘mugwumps’ who are said to be contemplating to make their ‘adoration’ for Mr Jaganmohan Reddy public.
Mr Azad will conclude his two-day visit with separate meetings with both Seemandhra and Telangana Congress leaders on Telangana state formation issue as the Centre promised to addressed it after elections to five state Assemblies.
According to highly placed sources, Mr Azad will draw up a list of MLAs who are considered most likely to switch over to Mr Jaganmohan Reddy’s side and give this list to the party High Command.
According to sources, the number of MLAs who are taking the Kadapa by-election results as a signal that the Congress is on the decline in the state is said to be have been increased dramatically.
Sources say that before the announcement of the by-election schedule, about 27 MLAs were seen to be supporting Mr Jaganmohan Reddy, but this number has now swelled to more than 70.
Mr Azad will give this list of ‘mugwumps’ to the party High Command so that immediate and concrete measures are taken to keep them interested in the party and thus dissuade them from crossing over.
Some of these measures include naming these ‘disgruntled leaders’ supporters to nominated posts. Sources say that the failure to get their supporters named for the nominated posts has been the main cause of disenchantment among the ruling party MLAs
Mr Azad’s visit is expected to clear the uncertainty over the political future of YS Vivekananda Reddy and Minister DL Ravindra Reddy who were defeated in the by-elections.