The Hindu : National / Elections 2004 : A sore throat, a spartan lunch and surging crowds

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 18, 2004

National

National - Elections 2004

A sore throat, a spartan lunch and surging crowds

The crowd at Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy's meeting in Bobbili. - Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam.

W. Chandrakanth

Bobbili

The shade cast by the huge mango tree in the sprawling garden of the Bobbili Rajah's guest-house on the outskirts of Bobbili town offers little comfort, though it is just 9 a.m. The day is already hot and humid. Drivers are reversing vehicles on the narrow pathway leading to the tents pitched behind the guest-house, where the former Leader of the Opposition and the star campaigner of the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is camping. Security men are having a tough time controlling enthusiastic local leaders from moving closer to Dr. Reddy, who is in the midst of a press conference.

The Congress leader has been up since 5.30 a.m. By 8 a.m., he has finished talking to his party men calling from all over the State. "We are coming to power with a huge margin. People have suffered enough under the nine-year long misrule of Telugu Desam", he declares, as he walks briskly towards his campaign vehicle, a Swaraj Mazda fitted with an audio system and orders the convoy to continue the "Jaitra Yatra".

Dr. Reddy face is flushed with pleasure at the response the yatra is generating on the eighth day. He waves to the large crowd gathering at the Bobbili junction. People vie to catch his attention as he climbs through the hatch and addresses the crowd. "Should the suicides of farmers continue in the State? Have you benefited from the Rs. 57, 000 crore borrowings that Naidu has brought to the State? Have not the `Patcha Chokkalu" (yellow shirts, meaning the TDP leaders) eaten away your Food for Work rice worth Rs. 5000 crore?" he asks the crowd. A huge cheer goes up.

As the convoy nears Balijapet, some brick kiln workers cross the fields to greet him, by now a regular sight. He slows the vehicle and shakes hands with them. Vantram, Seetampet, Kottur... the road takes him through a picturesque landscape dotted with hills and puddles of water (it has rained recently). The narrow road reaches Rajam as the fierce afternoon sun blazes down. Everyone is tired and Dr. Reddy's voice is hoarse by now — "a price we all have to pay", he grins in reference to his sore throat.

The dust rises as crowds run alongside the vehicle. Women stop the convoy to offer `aarti' to their leader. The Vunukuru Assembly candidate's mother, a former MLA, gets into the vehicle to kiss his forehead and bless him "Nuvve kaaboye mukhya mantrivi" (you are the next CM) while applying `tilak'. Women shower jasmine flowers on the convoy along the route.

It is 1 p.m. and Dr. Reddy is restless. "Why don't you stick to the schedule," he tells the local leaders and requests the crowd to clear the way for him. It is a difficult proposition as the crowds slow down the convoy.

But he is not really put off; he's happy with the reception. The Congress nominees from Parvathipuram and Bobbili Lok Sabha segments, Kishore Chandra Dev and Botsa Jhansi brief him on local issues.

It's 2 .30 p.m. by now. The convoy halts for lunch near a mango orchard. His lunch is spartan: a single roti, rice, sambar and curd. As he tries to rest under the shade on a mat, the local media appears to speak to him. As the afternoon progresses, the convoy is further delayed. "Namaste Chellamma (sister). Bring Sonia to power. Indiramma rajyam shall wipe away your tears", he reiterates, cutting short his speeches.

He reaches his last stop by 11 p.m. - Amadalavalasa. Dr. Reddy is three hours late, but the large gathering is still waiting patiently. No speeches now, he simply waves to them. It's time to call a halt.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National