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YSR gets into civic polls mode

A. Saye Sekhar

`In camera' meet held with top officials

MACHILIPATNAM: With an eye on the prospective elections to municipal bodies, the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, called for a meeting of the Commissioner and important officials of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) and the five municipalities in Krishna district, late on Sunday.

The meeting, convened at BEL guesthouse, was declared 'in camera'. Thus, all media representatives and cameramen were asked to leave. What seemed to be significant was the presence of the Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Veena Ish. Ms. Ish participated in all the programmes of the Chief Minister, conducted in Gudivada, Pedana and Machilipatnam.

The Chief Minister's Secretary, M.V.G.K. Bhanu, also accompanied him.

Considering Mr. Bhanu's experience as the Commissioner of the VMC, added significance to Dr. Reddy's tour of urban areas in the district on Sunday.

His announcement of Rs. 100 crores for building additional classrooms,

toilets and compound walls for all State-run schools in urban areas

emphasised the Chief Minister's pointed approach towards the coming

municipal elections. Even his speeches at 24 listed programmes and a few impromptu ones went on the lines of poll campaign for civic bodies. Dr. Reddy always concluded his lectures with a fervent appeal to people to "bless my Government and bless the Congress." He only stopped short of making a mention about the impending elections and urging the people to vote for the Congress. The sops doled out at all the towns only made things clearer than a cliché.

Aspirants for the coveted municipal positions in Gudivada, Pedana and

Machilipatnam vied with one another to draw the attention of the Chief

Minister. Some enthusiasts went to the extent of even having themselves

introduced to Dr. Reddy by MLAs and party leaders. The people's applause to Dr. Reddy, whenever he made promises, enthused the rank and file of the

Congress.

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