The Hindu : Naidu predicts rout of Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 14, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naidu predicts rout of Congress

By Our Staff Reporter

SRIKAKULAM, FEB. 13. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has accused the Congress of running around for electoral allies at the national level and in the State.

Mr. Naidu was addressing a well-attended public meeting at Kasibugga, about 70 km from here, this afternoon after participating in the flag festival and the cycle yatra of the TDP. He said the Congress after claiming all along that it could form the Government on its own in the country was now approaching even small parties. In the State, it was trying for an alliance with the separatist Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

The Chief Minister, who arrived more than two and half hours behind schedule, cycled down 3 km from the helipad near Junior College to the Railway Grounds, the venue of the meeting.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu castigated the Congress for its "empty promises, bankrupt politics and desperation for electoral alliances.'' The Chief Minister said the Communist parties which stood for an integrated Andhra Pradesh were also ready to align themselves with the TRS. The Congress was in "a desperate mood'' and was making promises and people would be deceived if they took them at their face value, he cautioned. Though the Congress was in ruling in 15 States, nowhere it was promising free power but was talking about it only in Andhra Pradesh. It was making "tall promises'' like lowering interest rate on farm advances to 3 per cent, higher pensions and completion of projects since anyway it would not come to power, he said.

The Congress would not be in the reckoning after the elections, he predicted. The TDP Government, on the other hand, invested huge amounts in the power sector creating an additional 5,000 MW, he said.

The Chief Minister made a forceful plea to people to reject through their powerful weapon of ballot naxalite violence. The extremist violence had achieved nothing and investors would come to the State only if a peaceful atmosphere prevailed, he said.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu recalled the abortive Alipiri attack by naxalites and how TDP leaders were being targeted subsequently and reiterated his charge that the Congress was colluding with naxalites.

He detailed the steps taken for the farm sector, women and youth. Another package would be worked out for the youth, he said.

The TDP president criticised the "bankrupt politics'' of the Congress for trying to make an "Italian woman'' the Prime Minister. The TDP, on the other hand, stood for the self-respect of Telugus, he said. He lauded the Vajpayee Government for its good work. The Golden Quadrilateral Project, cellphone connectivity, lower interest rates were among its notable achievements, he said.

The former TDPP leader, K. Yerran Naidu, the Excise Minister, T Sitaram, the party district president, G. Appala Suryanaryana, and the observer, G Mohana Rao, and former MLAs from the district participated.

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Andhra Pradesh