The Hindu : TDP candidates' first list today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP candidates' first list today

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, MARCH 20. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will come out with the first list of contesting candidates from among members of the dissolved Assembly on the occasion of Ugadi tomorrow.

The TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, said during an on-line interaction with the party cadre attending a workshop in all the 294 Assembly constituencies, telecast live by various TV channels, today. He urged them not to go into the question of candidates and spoil the proceedings when the workshop continued without the TV linkage after his speech.

Speaking to newsmen later, Mr. Naidu refused to answer on the number of names to be released or whether the list would also include members of the 13th Lok Sabha. To another question whether candidates of a particular region or those in his Cabinet would figure in the list, he said they were considered `overall'. The list would be released after approval by the politburo meeting.

The Chief Minister said a lot of exercise had gone into the selection of candidates in the last 20-25 days. He studied five to six reports on the chances of each candidate and discussed the same with his colleagues. Thereafter, the candidates were shortlisted based on their winning chance, character, mass contacts and reputation in the public. The final list was prepared only after no objections were raised against the selected candidates.

Mr. Naidu said the exercise was more elaborate than before. The party verified the data of candidates and cross-checked it and thereafter shortlisted the names. The party had given new leaders through every election by selecting effective candidates.

He said the list would consist of `consensus and acceptable' candidates.

Referring to the list of candidates with a criminal record released by the Lok Satta, Mr. Naidu evaded a direct reply, and said the organisation would do well to take up the issue of naxalism and educate masses. It could be integrated in their programme to mould public opinion against the menace.

Mr. Naidu said naxalism was more dangerous than criminality, and accused the Congress of colluding with extremists. Thirtyfour TDP activists were killed by the naxalites, he said, adding that it was not just the responsibility of the ruling TDP but all other parties to counter extremism. In his interaction with the TDP cadre, Mr. Naidu said the countdown for elections had begun. He gave a call to the booth-level committees of the party to gear up.

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