The Hindu : Naidu predicts rout of Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 10, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naidu predicts rout of Congress

HYDERABAD, JAN. 9. The TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, said here today that the Congress, which itself was quite wary of contesting the coming elections under the leadership of its president, Sonia Gandhi, would sink with her.

Interacting with his party cadre live on a private television channel, Mr. Naidu said a section of Congress leaders were averse to projecting her as the prime ministerial candidate for fear that it would mar the party's electoral prospects. He said the NDA leadership was now actively considering advancement of the Lok Sabha elections, a development that would lead to simultaneous polls with the State Assembly. He called upon the party cadre to be vigilant and effectively foil the Opposition's plans to "tarnish'' the party's image.

The Congress leaders were accusing the TDP of enrolling bogus voters as " a ruse'' to get the elections postponed. It was apparent that they were afraid of facing the electorate since they had reversed their earlier demand that the Government should dissolve the Assembly and face a fresh mandate.

The TDP chief dismissed as baseless the Congress party's charge that the TDP had enrolled 1.50 crore bogus voters. He advised its leaders to go to villages and assist election officials in weeding out bogus voters instead of raising a hue and cry from Hyderabad.

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Andhra Pradesh