K'taka development has no impact on AICC plenary

The last minute dry run for different sections, including party men and media, at the Gachibowli stadium complex, which is hosting the three-day AICC plenary, remained almost unaffected by the latest political developments in Karnataka as the leaders engaged in plenary arrangements found no time to react to the entire episode.

The leaders, right from Ambika Soni to Mohammed Ali Shabbir, were busy obtaining the first-hand assessment of the facilities and other arrangements meant for the grand meeting without showing any uneasiness over the fate of the Dharam Singh government. Even chief minister Rajasekhara Reddy was monitoring all the arrangements on an hourly basis.

While suspecting the game plan of the opposition BJP, the leaders, however, tried to interpret the events in a positive light.

According to them, though it may cost the party's power in Karnataka, the split in JD(S) will help the Congress regain its lead position in Karnataka politics in the long-run.

The extensive but low-key arrangements made by the ruling party and the state government is expected to enable the meeting to absorb the impact of Karnataka episode without bringing the party any major embarrassment.

The state government officials in industries and IT&C departments are finding the developments in Karnataka more to the advantage of Andhra Pradesh in terms of attracting investments.

In the wake of political instability and in the possible scenario of a non-Congress government being instituted in Karnataka, investors as well as the Centre may take a more favourable stand towards them, they hope.