'The Congress has no base in Andhra now'

Botsa Satyanaryana was the last state Congress president of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Last week he was suspended from the party for ‘anti-party’ activities.

Satyanarayana hails from Vizianagaram and was a state Congress minister. He lost in the assembly elections last year.

Speaking to Rediff.com, he denied that he was suspended from the Congress. He said, “I resigned from the party on my own, I have now joined the YSR Congress led by Jaganmohan Reddy.”

Explaining why he quit the Congress, he said, “Last year I contested the assembly polls and lost. The people have not responded to the Congress party. People have lost faith in the Congress.”

“I belong to the north coast of Andhra Pradesh. It is a backward area and (chief minister) Chandrababu Naidu has not done enough for my area. I have worked with Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and now I want to work with his son.

“I have nothing against the Congress high command. I am not criticising the Congress party now. I will not criticise it in the future.”

“The Congress has no base in Andhra now. Jagan Reddy is the opposition party. I need a party with a mass base and Jagan has it.”

What value Satyanaryana brings to Jagan Reddy’s party will be seen only in the next elections.