The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Guntur News : Rayapati confident of victory

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 26, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Guntur

Rayapati confident of victory

By Our Staff Reporter

GUNTUR, APRIL. 25. Congress candidates in seven Assembly segments under the Guntur Parliamentary constituency are of the view that anti-incumbency factor will work in their favour which in turn will help the candidate for the Lok Sabha seat get a thumping majority over his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) rival.

The Congress, which won only the Pedakurapadu Assembly constituency in 1999 elections, would get a majority of more than 20,000 votes in Guntur-I and Guntur-II Assembly constituencies, 15,000 in Tadikonda, 20,000 in Pedakurapadu, and 5,000 in Sattenapalli, while it was evenly poised in Chilakaluripet and Prathipadu constituencies, the Guntur Parliamentary constituency Congress candidate, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, said at a press conference here on Sunday.

Identifying drinking and irrigation water supply as the most neglected areas, he said that completing Pulichintala project in four years would be his first priority. Purchasing chillies at Rs.3,000 per quintal against the prevailing market price of Rs.1,600 would be the endeavour of the Congress candidate, he added.

Alleging recycling of rice meant for `Food-for-work' programme in the drought-affected villages by TDP leaders, he said that it had an impact on the purchase of paddy from farmers by millers leading to reduction of price by Rs.200 per quintal. Mr. Sambasiva Rao said he had nursed the constituency though he lost in 1999. His constant contact with people would bring him votes as he had never denied any help to people.

TDP candidate flays Rayapati

At a separate press conference, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Guntur Parliamentary Constituency nominee, Yemparala Venkateswara Rao, came down heavily on the Congress nominee, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, for trying to take undue advantage out of `wrong' publicity on the Guntur Railway Division.

Mr. Venkateswara Rao said "people have seen my performance and the development in the State after the TDP came to power, they will vote for the TDP candidates only in the seven Assembly constituencies,'' he said.

Challenging the Congress candidate to come for an open discussion on the creation of Railway Division and other development works, he said Mr. Sambasiva cannot claim the credit for the creation of the Railway Division as the G.O. came in July 2002 and was functional from April 1, 2003.''

The grand welcome by women in villages he had toured as part of his election campaign, he said that he was confident they would vote for the Telugu Desam Party only. Spending the MPLADS in a transparent manner he said was his main strength and through that he had created infrastructure for drinking water in 127 villages in the constituency with an investment of Rs. 40 crores.

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

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section

Rayapati confident of victory

Fire at jute mill