Sonia Gandhi's leadership, Manmohan Singh's vision will guide Cong rule: T'gana CM
Hyderabad (PTI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said the inspiration from Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's vision would guide the party rule in the state.
Speaking after virtually inaugurating the statues of 'Telangana Thalli' (Mother Telangana) in district Collectors' offices from here, he said people of the state would forever celebrate the birthday of Sonia Gandhi, who fulfilled the decades-old dream of Telangana formation, along with the inauguration of 'Telangana Thalli' on December 9 every year.
Sonia Gandhi, the former Congress president, turned 79 on Tuesday.
The CM said the state government had decided to celebrate December 9 as 'Telangana Thalli' inauguration day as it was on this day in 2009 that the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had announced initiating the process of the formation of Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh.
He recalled that the state government had installed the statue of Mother Telangana in the Secretariat on December 9 last year.
It is a matter of immense happiness for him, his cabinet colleagues and other Congress leaders that December 9 is also the birthday of Sonia Gandhi, Reddy said.
"Sonia Gandhi's inspiration, Manmohan Singh's vision would be implemented in our welfare and development programmes, in our governance and in our hearts forever," he said.
Sonia Gandhi fulfilled the aspiration of Telangana people for statehood, despite challenges, as per the word given by her (during the UPA regime led by then PM Manmohan Singh), he said.
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Cong claims TVK chief Vijay has sought its support for govt formation in Tamil Nadu
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Tuesday claimed that TVK chief Vijay has sought its support for government formation in Tamil Nadu and its leadership has directed the state unit to take a final decision on the matter, keeping in view the state's sentiments.
The party, which fought the assembly election in alliance with the DMK, asserted that the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government and that it is determined "not to have the BJP and its proxies run the government of Tamil Nadu in any manner".
Top Congress leaders held a meeting at party chief Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Tuesday evening that was attended by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar, among others.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Congress general secretary, Organisation, K C Venugopal said the Congress leadership discussed the post-election scenario in Tamil Nadu.
"TVK President Thiru Vijay has requested the Indian National Congress for support to form a Government in Tamil Nadu. He has spoken about drawing inspiration from Perumthalaivar Kamaraj as well, in his political mission.
"The INC is clear that the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government that is committed to protecting the Constitution in letter and spirit. The INC is determined not to have the BJP and its proxies run the Government of Tamil Nadu in any manner," he said.
"Accordingly, the Congress leadership has directed the TNCC to take a final decision on Thiru Vijay's request, keeping in view the sentiments of the state reflected in the electoral verdict," Venugopal told reporters.
Vijay's TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, falling short of the halfway mark. He needs the support of 10 MLAs to form a government with a simple majority. The results were declared only on Monday.
The Congress has won five seats, while the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has bagged four seats. The CPI and CPI-M have two seats each.
On the other hand, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has won 59 seats while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has won 47 seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won only one seat and so have the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and the Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK), while the VCK has won two seats.
The Congress had fought the assembly polls in a pre-poll alliance with the DMK, while the BJP had a tie-up with the AIADMK.
