Congress will not approach YS Jaganmohan Reddy's party: Kiran Reddy

Battering at the hands of YSR Congress in successive by-elections notwithstanding, Congress in Andhra Pradesh does not feel the need to approach rebel Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and suggests any effort for a rapprochement should come from his side.

It also attributes the triumph of YSR Congress in the June by-elections to "sympathy" towards late YS Rajasekhara Reddy and the arrest of his son Jaganmohan Reddy in disproportionate assets case while asserting that the party is not afraid of facing anyone at the hustings.

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy spoke about the by-election defeats, future of the Congress in Andhra Pradesh and his efforts to revitalise the party and its cadre before the elections in 2014.

"All these questions will have to be answered by them (Jagan camp). These have to be put to them. Congress does not try for anyone. Congress does not leave or take anyone. Whoever wants to be in Congress are in Congress party," he said.

Reddy was responding to a question on whether he saw any possibility of a rapprochement with YSR Congress and its eventual merger with the parent party.

"Any decision (if so) has to be taken by the High Command," was all what he said when pressed further.

When asked about the party's repeated defeats at the hands of YSR Congress in by-elections, the Chief Minister said people vote in such polls based on a specific issue or incident.

"When the by-elections took place (in June) there was sympathy for Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and because of the arrest of Jagan. So people voted (in their favour)," he said.

"I don't think so. I am very confident and very positive about Congress coming back to power," he said to a question whether the same "sympathy factor" would come in the way of Congress in 2014 elections.

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