The Hindu : BJP banking on `feel-good' factor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 23, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

BJP banking on `feel-good' factor

By Our Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM, JAN. 22. The Bharatiya Janata Party is banking on the `feel-good' factor in the A.B. Vajpayee Government to extend its lease of power at the Centre, according to the State BJP general secretary and All-India Janata Yuva Morcha president, G. Kishan Reddy.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Mr. Kishan Reddy said that people were aware of the welfare schemes launched by the NDA Government for the uplift of various sections of society. India's image was on the rise at the international level and the efforts at improving relations with Pakistan were appreciated by people, he claimed.

Reacting to the criticism of the NDA by the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, at the national level, and the former CLP leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, at the State level, the BJP leader said the country was well developed during the NDA regime and the party was ready for an open debate on any TV channel or press club on the issue.

On the statement by a Congress leader that Priyanka and Rahul were leaders of the party although they did not take party membership, Mr. Reddy wondered if the Congress practised democracy or dynastic rule. Gone were the days when people were proud of calling themselves Congressmen and identified with the freedom struggle. Now there were no freedom-fighters in that party which followed dynastic rule, indulged in corruption and had criminals in key roles, he alleged.

Referring to the so-called survey report of the former Congress Chief Minister, N. Janardhana Reddy, that Congress would bag 180 seats in the coming Assembly elections, the BJP leader termed it a bogus survey. Surveys by Delhi-based organisations already revealed that the TDP-BJP combine would win in the State, he stated.

The BJYM president claimed that a majority of the youth had been supporting the Vajpayee Government and the BJP would like to consolidate its strength further.

Full-time workers would be given training for 75 days to prepare for work during elections under the Mission-2004 programme of the party chalked out at the recent national executive meeting held in Hyderabad, he said. There would also be `Atal Sandesh Yatra' from February 11 to 24 all over the country during which party workers would meet voters.

Meetings at mandal level would be held next week to prepare workers for playing active role during elections, he added.

Asked as to why the Vajpayee Government failed to fulfil its promise of one crore jobs, Mr. Reddy said that Mr. Vajpayee never said he would give jobs.

Employment to 85 lakh persons was generated annually during the last four years, he claimed.

The city BJP president, Bandaru Rangamohan, its general secretaries - Nagendra, S.V.S. Prakash Reddy and T. Bhaskara Murty -- the city BJYM president, T. Chiranjeevi, and the BJYM in-charge, I. Mahesh Kumar, were also present at the press conference.

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