Congress will sweep LS polls in Telangana: Jaipal Reddy
February 18, 2014  21:53
Rediff.com's Anita Katyal  spoke with Science and Technology Minister S Jaipal Reddy, who was happy that the Telangana Bill  was passed with an overwhelming majority, but admitted that the Congress will face some trouble in the Seema-Andhra region.

Reddy, who represents the Chevella Lok Sabha constituency in Andhra Pradesh, and is considered a front runner for the post of chief minister of the country's 29th state of Telangana, was predictably extremely satisfied with the developments in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

At the same time, Reddy was equally quick to underline that the people of Seema-Andhra had nothing to fear as their concerns had been adequately addressed.

He told rediff.com after the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill,"We, the people of Telangana are supremely happy with the creation of the new state but I also want to take this opportunity to assert that no injustice has been done to the Seema-Andhra region."

"What has been done to address the concerns of Seemandhra is unprecedented. Hyderabad has been declared a common capital of the two states for 10 years. Mumbai or Chennai were not made common capitals when their respective states were reorganised," Reddy said.

 "Can anybody question the fact that the overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha backed the Bill," Reddy pointed out.

According to Reddy, the Congress will sweep in the Telangana region in the coming Lok Sabha elections but admitted that the party will face some trouble in the Seema-Andhra region.   At the same time, Reddy was confident that the situation will soon settle down.

"The Congerss will bounce back. Once Telangana is formed, there is no issue left to battle," Reddy maintained. Reddy was nonchalant about Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's act of defiance in opposing the creation of Telangana and his plans to leave the party.

"Kiran Kumar Reddy has been reduced to a minority. He is free to pursue his plans," Reddy said, adding that he would not be able to garner much support as most loyal Congress members from the Seema-Andhra region, who constitute a majority, will not desert the party.  
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