Hyderabad:
After intense consultations at various levels, the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh is soon expected to announce its candidates for the June 12 by-elections to 18 Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha constituency.
"The candidates will be announced in a day or two and we are confident of getting better results in the by polls", state Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana said.
The selection of candidates has evoked protests and angry reactions from various leaders even before the list of nominees is officially announced. The supporters of Congress Chief Whip Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy had staged a protest at Gandhi Bhavan, the party headquarters here, over the name of a newcomer cropping up as the candidate for the Parkal seat in Warangal district. Ramana Reddy's wife was said to be the front-runner for the seat earlier.
State Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy took a dig at Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy saying the latter would work for the victory of candidates as he appeared to have had a major say in their selection.
The Chief Minister and the PCC president held consultations with AICC leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Vayalar Ravi and also Party President Sonia Gandhi on selection of candidates a few days ago.
Replying to a query, the PCC president said TDP, YSR Congress and all other Opposition parties are rivals of the Congress in the by polls.
To another question, Satyanarayana said Kadapa MP Jagan Mohan Reddy is only the legal heir of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy but does not inherit the political legacy of the former Chief Minister.
Jagan has brought disrepute to his late father by his actions, he claimed.
Jagan has brought disrepute to his late father by his actions, he claimed.
By-poll to 16 of the 18 Assembly seats come after the disqualification of sitting Congress MLAs who switched loyalty to Jagan, while another sitting member quit in support of the Kadapa MP.
Actor-politician Chiranjeevi quit as MLA following his election to Rajya Sabha resulting in a by-poll.