Hyderabad: While continuing its brainstorm sessions on poll strategies for Telangana, Congress party is equally keen on Andhra Pradesh (AP) as the grand-old party is gearing up to take up Special Category Status (SCS) as a trump card for elections in AP. Congress party has decided to take up ‘Pratyeka Hoda Bharosa Praja Yatra’ (Assurance on Special Status to AP) in 25 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 districts. Congress AP leaders also suggested the party high command to hold Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Vijayawada.

Omen Chandi, in-charge of Congress in AP, PCC president Raghuveera Reddy, former united AP chief minister Kirankumar Reddy, MPs T Subbirami Reddy and KVP Ramachandra Rao met Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi and asked him to participate in the Special Status assurance tour.

“We have requested Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to participate in the Special status assurance tour in AP. In addition to this, we also suggested the party high-command to hold CWC meeting in Vijayawada. Rahul Gandhiji has given in-principal approval to convene CWC meeting in Vijayawada. Rahulji also said that BJP has cheated Andhraites,” said Raghuveera Reddy.

It may be recalled that Rahul Gandhi during his recent poll campaign in AP assured that he would sign first on special status file.

“In this backdrop, if Congress holds CWC meeting in Vijayawada, this will send positive signals to Andhraites. We’ll finalise party candidates for Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies by this month end. All the aspirants are requested to submit their applications at district Congress offices during February 7-10. Congress party is keeping equal distance to BJP, TDP and YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh,” remarked Reddy.