Congress says time to turn a new page as Seemandhra leaders quit

Faced with spate of desertions by its leaders from Seemandhra and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kirankumar Reddy floating a new party ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Congress on Thursday struck a philosophical note saying "we must turn a new page and move on."

"In politics this happens. One or two individuals might join here or there. There has been a steady coming and going in the Indian democratic history during elections. We must turn a new page and move on," party spokesman Shashi Tharoor told reporters.

He was asked to comment on the likelihood of former Union Minister D Purandeswari joining BJP, which will be yet another setback to the beleaguered Congress in Seemandhra.

Purandeswari, Lok Sabha member from Visakhapatnam, held a meeting with her supporters there today after which she said she would meet top BJP leaders in Delhi tomorrow.

A number of Congress MLAs and former Ministers and other leaders in Seemandhra have joined TDP and YSRCP in protest against the division of Andhra Pradesh.

Asked about Reddy forming a new party, Tharoor remarked, "I wonder how well attended his party will be?"