Vayalar Ravi likely to meet AP Cong leaders soon

Union Minister Vayalar Ravi, who has been involved in managing the Congress affairs in Andhra Pradesh to improve the party's sagging popularity, may hold consultations with party leaders again soon.

Ravi, who was here late last night to attend a private function, indicated that he might come back again after about a week to talk to the party leaders. Ravi visited Andhra Pradesh at the behest of party high command in the run-up to the crucial bypolls to 18 Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha constituency a few months ago, amid reports that Congress was losing ground to Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's party. Not only did he hold extensive consultations with party leaders of various levels, he even undertook field visits to different districts. Congress won two Assembly seats among the 18 and the lone Lok Sabha seat (won by YSRCP) where bypolls were held, though Jagan's Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) had a thumping victory at the hustings.

Ravi's likely visit to AP next week will be crucial as it comes against the backdrop of speculation that the high command would look into the issues like change of leadershiip in the state and the contentious Telangana. Also, there have been reports that differences have cropped up between state Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Union Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy. While those understood to be supporters of Chief Minister claim that Jaipal Reddy did not make gas allocations to the state, leaders said to be close to the Union Minister maintain that the allegation is unfounded.

-PTI