Congress will regain lost ground in Andhra Pradesh: Killi Kruparani

Srikakulam, August 23

Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Killi Kruparani on Sunday expressed confidence that the party would regain its political strength in Andhra Pradesh, citing the growing popularity of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi among young people.

Addressing a press conference in Srikakulam alongside senior party leader Killi Rammohana Rao, Kruparani said the Congress was preparing to make significant gains in the forthcoming local body elections.

She claimed that the parties constituting the National Democratic Alliance had failed to win the confidence of the people despite being in power at both the Centre and in Andhra Pradesh for the past two years.

According to her, public dissatisfaction has been growing over several issues, including unemployment, alleged irregularities in examinations and the difficulties faced by students and job-seekers.

Kruparani said Rahul Gandhi’s outreach initiatives had helped the Congress reconnect with young people and bring their concerns into the national political discourse.

She particularly referred to Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme, saying it had attracted considerable attention across the country and received an enthusiastic response from students and other youngsters.

The programme had provided a platform for young people unhappy with examination-related irregularities, large-scale unemployment and the lack of adequate opportunities, she said.

Kruparani expressed hope that Rahul Gandhi would organise similar programmes in major cities across Andhra Pradesh. Such events, she said, would enable students to highlight their grievances and draw national attention to the challenges confronting the younger generation.

She maintained that the Congress was steadily rebuilding its organisational base in the State and that increasing support from young voters would strengthen its prospects.

The party would intensify its grassroots activities and reach out to different sections of society ahead of the local body elections, she added.