The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Spin doctors pep up poll scene

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Spin doctors pep up poll scene

By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao

WARDHANNAPET (WARANGAL DT), APRIL 13. It may sound odd, but contestants who are not so well read and even lack literacy, in some cases, are using all their wit and wisdom during the ongoing election campaign. One meeting went something like this on Tuesday in Wardhannapet constituency.

"How many times does Sankranti festival come?" "Once a year." "How many times does Deepavali come?" "Once a year" and for the third question, the person posing the question himself answers it rather than waiting for the voters.

"How many times does Yadagiri Reddy come here'' "Once in five years" says the poser and TDP candidate, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, while the voters burst out into laughter.

Most of the candidates have engaged specialists - mostly former journalists to write their speeches. Despite being confident of his victory, Mr. Dayakar Rao has been touring the constituency relentlessly and virtually going from door to door.

On Tuesday, he visited Tidugu, Garnepalli, Inavolu and several other villages braving the scorching sun while hundreds of women welcomed him with `Mangalaharati' and offered `tilak' to him.

According to sources, the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, called up Mr. Dayakar Rao and asked him to tour the other constituencies as his victory was a forgone conclusion. However, Mr. Dayakar Rao is accompanying the Chief Minister only during his visits to the district, and restricting himself to his Wardhannapet constituency.

In Mulug, Congress candidate Podem Veeraiah, who is desperate to retain his seat by defeating former naxalite D Anasuya alias Seeta, explained to voters "Last year four persons were killed by naxalites. Who killed them? The one who is asking your vote now and one who fought against the same party, which she represents now, the same Seetakka and her naxal friends ...and the rhetoric goes on.

In Chennur, the TRS candidate, Dugyala Srinivasa Rao, questioned the locus standi of the TDP candidate, N Sudhakar Rao, to question the political legacy of Indira Gandhi's family while his family had been representing the constituency since 1952.

"Give me a chance and see the difference,'' Mr Rao said.

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