AP Congress Chief Mr.D.Srinivas Risinging

HYDERABAD: Pressure is mounting on Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president D. Srinivas to quit his post, following the humiliating defeat of the party in the byelections to 12 Assembly constituencies in Telangana region.

On Sunday, party MP from Guntur Rayapati Sambasiva Rao fired the first salvo stating that the high command was analysing the outcome of the recent byelections and “the Central leadership will take a decision on the APCC president in a day or two.” Former Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy, however, felt that there was no need for Mr. Srinivas to resign as his term would anyway end shortly. A new APCC chief would be elected taking all issues into consideration, he told reporters in Anantapur district.

Different tune

In contrast, Telangana leaders rallied behind him. Minister for Information and Public Relations J. Geetha Reddy, who met the APCC chief at his residence, termed the demand as uncalled for. “If Mr. Srinivas alone had lost the bypolls, the demand could have been justified. The sentiment was so strong, none could have faced the situation,” she reasoned.

It is understood that Mr. Srinivas is likely to visit New Delhi in a day or two to meet the Central leadership. Sources, however maintained that the APCC chief was yet to make up his mind whether to quit.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Congress leaders plan to apprise the AICC leadership of the mood in the region and take up the issue of statehood. At a meeting at the residence of Congress Working Committee member K. Keshava Rao and attended by Peddapalli MP G. Vivekananda, MLA Baswaraj Saraiah and former Minister T. Jeevan Reddy it was decided that a delegation MLAs and MPs should meet AICC president Sonia Gandhi in the next few days and discuss the outcome of the bypolls.

Mr. Keshava Rao said: “People have expressed their desire for creation of Telangana in no uncertain terms. Going by the verdict, we will approach the Central leadership and impress upon them the need to concede Telangana.”

MPs meet DS In a related development, MPs – Ponnam Prabhakar, S.Rajaiah and Suresh Shetkar – met the APCC chief in the wake of the latter's defeat in Nizamabad Urban constituency.

They remarked that despite working hard for the party candidates, the sentiment literally swept them away. A meeting of the Ministers hailing from the region, legislators and defeated party candidates has been convened on Monday at Gandhi Bhavan to review the results.

Andhra Pradesh CM goes Missing in Kurnool

There has been no contact with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, whose helicopter has been missing since 9:30 am after he took off from Hyderabad this morning, Home Ministry sources here said. "There has been no contact established with the helicopter," sources in the ministry said. Helicopters involved in the search have been called back due to bad weather but foot search will continue. 600 CRPF jawans have been deployed for the search operation.

YS Rajasekhara Reddy has gone missing while on his way from Kurnool to Chittoor. Due to bad weather Reddy's helicopter made an emergency landing at Pamulapadu in Kurnool district.

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Reports suggest that the helicopter has landed safely in Kurnool district but the chief minister's whereabouts are still a mystery.
The helicopter lost contact with Air Traffic Controller at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad and since then there has not been any contact with the Chief Minister.
Some sources claimed that Reddy had been traced and taken to Kurnool guest house after a four-hour frantic search.
Andhra Pradesh Police is continuing a search for the missing chopper of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajshekhar Reddy.
Panic was created around Wednesday noon as Reddy was reported untraceable for nearly four hours.
Reddy was on his way to Chittor, by the chopper which initial reports said had made an emergency landing near Kurnool due to inclement weather.
The chopper took off at 8.45 a.m. for Chittor and was scheduled to arrive here at 10.45 a.m, sources said.
The chopper was said to have landed in the middle of thick forest, said to be affected by the Maoist activities.
The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed the receiving a message of the emergency landing of the chopper, but nothing thereafter.
Till now, no one has confirmed the movements of Reddy.
The Union Home Ministry is monitoring the search operations, as Kurnool is a Naxal affected area.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) sources said the chopper went off the radar due to heavy rains.
The CMO maintains there is no need to worry, as the area has no mobile connectivity.

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