‘New Congress’ to emerge in Andhra Pradesh after local body elections: AICC managing secretary

CWC member Gidugu Rudra Raju congratulated PV Mohan in-charge of AICC in New Delhi. | Photo credit: HANDOUT

AICC Andhra Pradesh general secretary and Karnataka Legislative Council member PV Mohan on Thursday said that a “new Congress” will emerge in Andhra Pradesh during the next local body elections, giving the party a great opportunity to showcase its strength at the local level.

Speaking to The Hindu over phone ahead of his visit to the state on September 14, Mr. Mohan said, “I plan to visit all the districts in the state to hold a review meeting with senior officials and chalk out an action plan for the local body elections.”

Later, I will hold meetings in all 175 Assembly constituencies to strengthen the party ahead of the 2029 assembly and parliamentary elections, he added. He expressed confidence that the Congress would emerge victorious in several constituencies in 2029 and be able to form a government in 2034.

The senior Congress leader felt that the Congress governments in Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana and its alliance with TVK in Tamil Nadu would influence the polls in Andhra Pradesh and also improve its prospects. He also said that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha ‘Rahul Gandhi’ has become an icon for the new generation who are interested in voting for Congress in municipal and parish elections.

He alleged that Telugu Desam and YSRCP failed to develop Andhra Pradesh in last 12 years. “YSRCP’s chart has come down drastically in 2024 elections. Its strength has come down to 11 seats in previous elections. TDP and its alliance parties like Jana Sena Party (JSP) and BJP have lost people’s support due to bad administration. All these factors will make people look at Congress in the state,” said Mr. Mohan.

Mr. Mohan alleged that parties in Andhra Pradesh have failed to pressure the Narendra Modi-led government at the Center to fulfill the promises made in the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act.

He said, “Andhra Pradesh would have been economically strong if special category status was introduced as incorporated in the Act. TDP and YSRCP did not ask the Center to introduce it.”

He also criticized the government for the delay in completing the Polavaram project and alleged that adequate steps were not being taken to protect the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, which was established during the Indira Gandhi regime.

Published – 10 Sep 2026 20:58 IST