Bypolls will be a referendum for Congress

HYDERABAD: Senior MLA and former minister P Shankar Rao has expressed concern over the negative impact that his dismissal from the Kiran Kuamr Reddy cabinet might have on the Congress’ prospects in the five states including UP that are going for polls.Addressing a press conference at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) office here on Tuesday, the senior MLA observed that UP chief minister Mayawati had removed five ministers from the cabinet on corruption charges while in AP, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had dismissed a scheduled caste minister from the cabinet for fighting against corruption.The upcoming elections - panchayat raj, municipal and Assembly byelections - will serve as a referendum on the acceptability of the Congress in the people.He dared the chief minister to explain what his contribution to the party was.He said the Congress was continuing in power at the Centre and in the state due to sacrifices made by Dalits and BC minorities.He said neither the chief minister nor the party high command had sought his resignation.The chief minister took a unilateral decision and sacked him, he said