APCC President denies early elections

Hyderabad, Oct 4 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President D Srinivas today said that elections to the state Assembly and the Lok Sabha would be held as per schedule in March or April 2009.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the talk of early elections was merely a speculation by the Opposition parties.

Alleging that the Opposition parties were trying to forge an alliance with each other to come to power by hook or crook, he said the party was ready to forge alliance with its former allies, including TRS, if they come forward.

Claiming that the Congress was strong enough to face the elections on its own strength, he said the government was trying to arrest the increasing price of essential commodities and shortage of fertilisers.

Denying any differences with Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on the revamping of the Pradesh Congress Commitee (PCC), he said 50 per cent of the posts in the PCC would be given to the backward classes. The revambed PCC would be announced very soon, he added.

Regarding the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu's agitation against corruption in the state, he challenged Mr Naidu to come out with concrete proof to prove his allegations.

UNI BR DS RJ CS1720