Congress to go solo in Andhra Pradesh, will not tie-up with TDP

New Delhi: Congress has decided to sail single handed in Andhra Pradesh, as it will not form an alliance with Telugu Desam Party in the elections of the State Assembly and Lok Sabha.

Oommen Chandy, the party's central leader in-charge of party affairs in Andhra, said on Wednesday that Congress party had decided to contest all 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats.

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The decision clearly conveys that there will be no Grand Alliance of Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh. The two parties had jointly contested recent Assembly elections in Telangana but faced major blow and failed to form a government there.

TDP, which is the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh, was also quite equivocal on whether it would contest the coming elections in the State in collaboration with Congress or not.

He said that he didn't hold any talks with Chandrababu Naidu as he was in contact with Congress alone and the decision for a coalition with TDP in Telangana was taken by the party's central leadership.

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The former Kerala Chief Minister said the party also decided to form all committees including election committee as per All India Congress Committee directions.

He also said that a meeting of all party conveners of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies will meet on January 31 to discuss and finalize everything related to elections.

On being questioned if the party would find candidates to contest the elections, Chandy claimed that many people were ready to contest.

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When asked as to how many seats Congress would win, he said that the decision rests on people.

In 2014, Congress had drawn a blank in both Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. He, however, believes that the situation had now changed and people of Andhra Pradesh have full faith in Congress President Rahul Gandhi's promise to give special category status to the State.

Chandy said all leaders of the party under leadership of State Congress President Raghuveera Reddy would take out bus yatra in all 13 districts in the month of February. Meanwhile, Congress has braced itself for Andhra Pradesh elections.