Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

CPI(M) deprecates `early poll talk'

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR OCT. 18. The State secretary of the CPI(M), B.V. Raghavulu, has strongly opposed what he called the ruling TDP's inclination for early Assembly elections. He accused the TDP of trying to misuse the sympathy created in the aftermath of the People's War bid on the life of the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr. Raghavulu said reports in the print media, the Government's `keenness' to complete welfare and development schemes "in a hurry'' and the activity in the ruling party all indicated an early election to the Assembly. The ruling party appeared to be thinking that they would not get a better opportunity to go people, he observed.

There was no need to go for early election as almost a year was due to expiry of the term of the current Assembly, he asserted. Instead, what was required was concentration on solving the problems of people, he stressed. Taking the State, when it was facing severe drought conditions, to the polls was not in the interest of people at the present juncture, he noted.

Mr. Raghavulu explained that 450 mandals in the State were suffering severe drought conditions and the situation in Anantapur and Mahbubnagar districts was even worse. People of the two districts had been suffering for the last four years, he noted.

He suggested that the State Government concentrate on the efforts to get water from Koyna (Maharashtra) and Almatti (Karnataka) dams to Nagarjunasagar reservoir to save farmers. He criticised the Government for its "callousness'' in the implementation of the special package announced to Anantapur district last year.

The details of the special package had yet to emerge and the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the drought had not even met once till now, he pointed out. He alleged that the Government negligence of the problems had increased in the recent months as was evident in its approach towards release of water to HLC, K-C Canal, SRBC and Nagarjunasagar canals. Besides, its stand on the fake stamp papers scam was also questionable, he said.

The CPI(M) leader observed that the State Government had just been focussing attention on the naxalite attack on the Chief Minister. While the ruling party was all interested in gauging the level of sympathy with the help of a survey, governance had been "thrown to the winds.''

Mr. Raghavulu felt that the TDP needed to answer to people as to why it was in a hurry to go for the polls. The Chief Minister had been "boasting'' of the development achieved by his Government during the last eight years till recently. Even his talk that people were on his side due to his hard work had changed since the naxalite attack.

He sought to know why the ruling party had "stooped'' to the level of exploiting the sympathy. He reasoned that it might be due to the TDP's fear that people were ready to refuse the party and delay would further reduce their chances. It exposed the ruling party's "cowardice'' and "lack of confidence.''

The CPI(M) appealed to the ruling party to go to the rescue of people in dire straits instead of thinking about elections. Asked about the CPI(M) stand in the event of elections, Mr. Raghavulu said they were only to gain as always. He commented that one's work for people would be the real investment to win the elections and not the sympathy wave.

Ruling the possibility of an alliance with the Congress, he, however, reiterated their commitment to keep the vote of the Left and Opposition parties undivided. The Politburo of the party, which was scheduled meet soon, would take a decision on political matters. The election results of the four Assemblies soon might also throw up several possibilities, he added.

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