TDP politburo members and senior ministers P Ashok Gajapati Raju (Finance), T Devender Goud (Revenue) and general secretary Lal Jan Basha demanded a debate on the growing influence of criminals in politics, while alleging that it was the Congress that promoted anti-social elements in politics.Speaking to press here, they wanted to know whether the Congress president was ready to banish Pradesh Congress Committee president and MP Y S Rajasekhar Reddy from electoral politics. ``Sonia Gandhi said that the law makers and law breakers were sitting on the same side in some legislatures. But, here in AP, the peculiarity is that the law makers and law breakers are the same,'' Gajapati Raju said, ``Is shegoing to apply the same yardstick for AP too?''

Goud mentioned that Rajasekhar Reddy was facing as many as 22 criminal cases, besides resorting to ``innumerable'' malpractices in elections every time. But, the TDP leaders parried questions when asked about why the State Government was hesitating to take action against Reddy, if he was really involved in several criminal cases. ``You all know very well, it is due to defects in the existing system,'' Goud replied. Asked about Reddy's victories in previous elections, Basha said: ``We all know how he wins. Free and fair polls were never held in Cuddapah.''

But TDP leaders faced some sticky moments when they were questioned about the criminal elements in their own party. ``We do admit that there are 10 per cent criminals in our party, but Congress has 90 per cent criminals,'' Basha said. Goud then said that being a major political party, it was the duty of the Congress to initiate steps to contain criminals in politics. ``Let them take the lead, we willcertainly follow them,'' he said.