Senior Cong leader unhappy over non-inclusion in meetings

Hyderabad, May 7 (UNI) Senior Congress leader P Janardhana Reddy today expressed unhappiness over the party not inviting him for meetings and programmes despite his devotion to strengthen it.

Addressing a press conference along with another senior Congress leader P Shankar Rao here, Mr Reddy said, being an ex-officio member of the PCC executive and former CLP leader, it was improper on the part of Congress to exclude him from the recent meetings, including the one held at Gandhi Bhavan yesterday.

He alleged that the party was also keeping out other senior MLAs of Hyderabad, including P Sasidhara Reddy and Malreddy Ranga Reddy.

Though state Congress President K Keshava Rao had not expressed any displeasure over his and P Sankara Rao's views on party affairs and government functioning, it was unfortunate that the party had decided to give a showcause notice to MLA P Shankara Rao.

According to Mr Reddy, PCC President had said that in a party any one can give different opinions to strengthen it but not contradictory versions.

Alleging that the party's decision to issue a showcause notice to Shankara Rao was on the instigation of a government adviser, he said the adviser should give advices only on government affairs and not meddle in party affairs.

Mr Shankar Rao said he had expressed his views only to strengthen the party to prepare for the next elections in 2009.

Neglect of senior leaders did not augur well for the Congress, Mr Rao said adding that despite having a good track record in the House, he was not included in the recent ministry expansion, contrary to the AICC directions of providing berth to the seniors.

UNI