The Congress in Andhra Pradesh is on the death bed. People have punished the party in the 2014 elections, after the bifurcation. Though majority people were against the bifurcation fearing loss of employment and other opportunities, people have finally compromised on the bifurcation. But, they did not digest the way the Congress leaders have handled the bifurcation. The arrogance of power displayed by Congress leaders like Digvijay Singh and Jairam Ramesh was disgusting. Sonia Gandhi did not give a chance to the AP to speak. The fears of AP were ignored and the leaders and people of the region were disregarded.
With an eye on winning power in Telangana, the Congress leadership completely overlooked the AP’s voices and concerns. There are several Central government institutions in Hyderabad including the Weather Forecast Centre and Tsunami warning centre. None of them were given to Andhra Pradesh as if the Tsunami Centers were required for Hussain Sagar Lake. Only 11 educational institutions were promised to the State, leaving all Central institutions of defence and other departments. This had angered the people who crushed the party mercilessly in the elections. The Congress candidates have lost their deposits in all the 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies. It could not win even a single seat from the village level to the district level in all the local bodies. They received just 2 per cent of the votes in the election. That was the anger of the people against the Congress.
The party could not improve its presence form the punishment given by the people as Digvijay Singh continued to visit the State rubbing salt on the wounds. Though the Congress continued its fight for the special category status by organising signature campaigns, protest rallies and representations to the President and Prime Minister during the last four years, people did not consider it worth as Digvijay Singh continued to be the face of the Congress in the State.
Now, with the Congress removing Digvijay Singh and appointing Kerala’s former chief minister Oommen Chandy, there is some new lease of life. The party rank and file heaved a sigh of relief and the hopes are raised now. Comparatively Chandy is a better candidate and approachable with his clean image. There is a positive feeling among the people in his favour and there is a sign of some of its voters coming back to the party.
However, Chandy should now give the confidence to the people that it would protect their interests and work for the State. The promise of Rahul Gandhi to give his first signature on special category status to the State if he is voted to power had come as some relief to the people. It is to be seen how the Congress would use Chandy’s image or Digvijay’s exit to improve its position in the State.
