The AP Congress on Wednesday started receiving applications from the aspirants for the Assembly and Parliament elections. The party opened a counter in Andhra Rathna Bhavan, the State Congress headquarters here.

Party senior leader and AICC secretary Manickam Tagore started receiving the applications from the aspirants. The first application was given by Sudhkar from Madakasira Assembly constituency, while the second application was given by Mastan Vali from Guntur East Assembly constituency. The third application was given by Kamalamma from Badwel Assembly constituency.

Speaking on the occasion, Manickam Tagore said that every Congress worker has the right to give his or her application for the elections. He also wanted the Congress loyalists to come back to the party and fight the elections. He wanted the YSR loyalists to come back and fight the elections on the Congress ticket.

He said that the party steering Committee in Delhi would look into all the applications and allocate the party tickets for both Assembly and Parliament seats. He said that the Congress would contest all the 175 Assembly seats and 25 Parliament seats in the state.

Manickam Tagore said that the Congress is gaining ground in the state. Congress workers from different parties were now looking at the party for their future politics. He also said that leaders from the ruling YSR Congress were now looking at the Congress and maintained that it was a good sign.

Referring to Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy’s seat, the AICC secretary said that the issue would be decided shortly by the party high command. He said that the high command is looking into the issue and would soon declare Ramakrishna Reddy’s constituency.

Manickam Tagore also maintained that there are several MLAs from the YSR Congress who are coming to the Congress. So far, Ramakrishna Reddy and Kapu Ramachandra Reddy have come to the party and more leaders would join shortly.