Congress also won the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh twice consecutively in 2004 and 2009, dashing the hopes of regional heavyweight TDP to capture power.
However, the situation has taken a massive turn after the Congress-led UPA government went ahead with the creation of a separate Telangana state, ignoring stiff opposition from Seemandhra leaders cutting across party lines. The rank and file of Congress collapsed with several Union ministers from the region resigning, while some like D Purandeswari switched over to BJP.
Moreover, the party also suffered a setback following the launch of JSP headed by former Congress Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. State Congress leaders, however, are determined to put up a strong fight as they believe that the fortunes of the party can be revived in Seemandhra.
According to senior Congress leader and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Kishore Chandra Deo, the party has given several benefits for boosting the growth of Seemandhra region through the AP Reorganisation Act. “Various measures for the development of Seemandhra have been incorporated in the Act,” he says.
However, TDP and JSP appear confident about upstaging Congress.
