 By IANS
Hyderabad : The Congress government in Andhra Pradesh Monday completed three years in office amid growing dissidence in the party.
The party is observing the day as 'Rededication Day' to dedicate itself again to serve the people. It is also debating 'Target 2009' – a strategy to retain power in the next assembly elections.
A daylong plenary began at the Lal Bahadur Stadium here with state Congress president K. Keshava Rao urging party leaders to remain united.
"A united Congress party is invincible," he said and sought suggestions to chalk out an action plan for the next elections.
His appeal came hours after dissidents confronted the leadership at the executive of the state Congress committee.
Dissident MLA P. Janardhan Reddy and MP V. Hanumantha Rao raised their voice against the party's use of disciplinary action on a selective basis after the legislative council polls.
Dissident activities in the party gathered momentum after Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ignored many aspirants in the cabinet expansion last month. The party also issued a show-cause notice to senior MLA P. Shankar Rao for his outbursts against the chief minister. Further, four MLAs were suspended for cross-voting in council polls.
Y.S.R. Reddy, his cabinet colleagues, All India Congress Committee secretary Iqbal Singh, former chief minister N. Janardhan Reddy and senior leader G. Venkat Swamy attended the plenary, apart from several other party members.
After Keshava Rao's inaugural speech, many leaders showered praise on Y.S.R Reddy's achievements in the last three years.