Kiran may return to Congress fold

Tirupati: The Congress party, which is struggling hard to retrieve its lost ground in Andhra Pradesh, finds hope in former chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Kiran Kumar Reddy was one leader in the Congress who could stand up to the cause of an integrated state at the height of separate Telangana movement and oppose his own party's move to divide the state.

When he could not stop bifurcation, he left the Congress and formed his own outfit Jai Samaikyandhra Party, which could not garner support of voters anywhere in the state, though he was considered champion of Samaikyandhra, for challenging the Centre.

Later in 2014 elections, Congress candidates lost security deposits in all the 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies, with people holding party leadership responsible for the bifurcation of the state.

Since then the party under the leadership of PCC president N Raghuveera Reddy has desperately been trying hard to regain its strength, which seems to be yielding no results. Recently the party high command appointed former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as new in-charge of AP affairs, who made it clear that they will invite all leaders who left the party in the aftermath of bifurcation.

Even before that some leaders in party opined that Kiran Kumar Reddy may return to party fold any time. In fact, he met Congress president Rahul Gandhi also in New Delhi last year and the central leadership was in touch with him always. Sources close to him in the Pilgrim City have not ruled out his joining Congress but maintained that it may take some more time.

The immediate question that comes to one’s mind is what role Kiran will play after his entry into Congress. A leader very close to him, who wished to be anonymous, felt that he may lead the party in the state. Even some leaders in his home constituency Piler were of the same view.

But, they were saying that he may not contest in 2019 election but only lead the campaign and Congress feels that his image will make a difference for them as people may believe him. This, they expect, may yield fruitful results in 2024 elections. And his followers expect that if Congress secures more seats or comes to power at the Centre, their leader may get a Rajya Sabha ticket.

In the recent past, his brother N Kishore Kumar Reddy who fought 2014 elections from Piler as Jai Samaikyandhra party candidate and lost the election to YSRC's C Ramachandra Reddy joined TDP and was appointed constituency in-charge by TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu. If at all Kiran wants to contest Assembly elections he may have to do so from Piler only which leaves him no option but to contest against his own brother.

His followers feel that this will be a remote possibility. Some other leaders were of the view that Congress wants to clip the wings of YSRCP in 2019 elections which will be only way for their own growth in the state. As TDP was always its natural rival, their focus will be on YSRCP only. If Kiran’s image as the champion of Samaikyandhra can dent the vote bank of YSRCP, they expect the TDP will have a cake walk in the elections and by 2024 they can become more powerful and defeat the TDP again.

Rayalaseema Porata Samithi convener and trusted lieutenant of Kiran Kumar Reddy, P Naveen Kumar Reddy, who contested last elections from Tirupati on Jai Samaikyandhra Party ticket told The Hans India: “Anything is possible. Kiran may join the Congress at an appropriate time. We all will follow him,” said Naveen Kumar Reddy.