Rahul Gandhi to address meeting at Kurnool on September 18

Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a public meeting at Kurnool on September 18 as part of a five-pronged plan to resurrect the party, which has been left decimated post-bifurcation in 2014 in the state.

Though political rumor mills are agog with talk of a possible alliance between Congress and the ruling Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh for the 2019 elections, the former has maintained that it is following only the 'alliance with people' mantra and as such not inclined to join hands with anyone.

"Our focus is on building bridges with the people," Congress veteran and MP Veerappa Moily maintained here Tuesday. "We will fight the 2019 elections alone," he told reporters in reply to a question at a press conference. Oommen Chandy, AICC general secretary in charge of AP affairs will visit Kurnool along with state Congress president N Raghuveera Reddy on September 6 to supervise arrangements for the meeting.

The Congress chief is also expected to interact with students ahead of the public meeting, PCC sources said. The Congress has been assuring that it will fulfill former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's promise (made in Rajya Sabha on February 20, 2014) on granting Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh if it is voted to power in 2019.

Rahul Gandhi had already categorically announced that he would sign the 'first file' according to SCS to the state on assuming power in 2019. At the Kurnool meeting, he is also expected to announce the Congress' political strategy for AP so as to make it 'battle-fit' for 2019.

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