By Odisha Today Bureau

On Wednesday Congress announced that it is going to contest upcoming election in Andhra Pradesh, for the state Assembly and the Lok Sabha on its own and will not have any alliance with the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP). The party seems to have received a green signal from the high command to go ahead alone and contest election for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha Seats. 

AICC general secretary and former Chief Minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy, who is now party’s central leader in-charge of party affairs in Andhra was asked whether he conveyed the, message to Naidu or not? To this he replied, "I am connected with AICC not TDP or its leader Chandrababu Naidu. We will inform the high command and get permission". He later added that the decision for an alliance with TDP in Telangana was taken by the party's central leadership.

Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the PCC office-bearer, Chandy said that they would meet again on 31January to discuss about the poll preparation. He was even asked as to how many seats Congress would win and he replied, “It’s uncertain, the people will decide, they have the power”.  In 2014 election, Congress had drawn a blank in both Assembly and Lok Sabha Polls, but this time they feel that the situation have changed and people of Andhra Pradesh have full faith in Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s promise to provide special category status to the state.   

APCC president N Raghuveera Reddy asserted, “We are convinced that only Congress can bring special category status to the state. We are also convinced that only Rahul can give the special category status and hence the task before us is to see that the Congress wins the election and as a result Rahul becomes the Prime Minister”.  

Chandy further added that the congress workers are planning to undertake a bus yatra in all 13 districts in February.