The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Campaign in Penukonda hots up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 30, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Campaign in Penukonda hots up

Staff Reporter

TDP rides Paritala wave, Congress clings to `development'

ANANTAPUR: With electioneering for by-election to the Penukonda Assembly Constituency entering the final phase, Congress and TDP are leaving no stone unturned to woo voters. The Congress is making a serious bid to wrest the seat from TDP for the first time since 1994 elections. The party has made peace and development its poll planks, "exposing the under-development" during the TDP rule. The TDP, is however, mostly banking on the popularity of Paritala Ravindra and the sympathy wave after his murder in January this year.

Minister at work

The Panchayat Raj Minister, J.C. Diwakar Reddy, has been spearheading the Congress campaign for the last 15 days. He has been on a whirlwind visit of villages since May 16. The Minister for Agriculture, N. Raghuveera Reddy, the party leaders, A. Venkatarami Reddy and G. Bhanumati, and the party legislators have been lending support to Mr. Diwakar Reddy.

The Congress leaders are playing up "lack of basic infrastructure like link roads to villages and drinking water problem" in the constituency. TDP, on the other hand, has been harping on development in health and education sectors with the construction of schools and health centres.

Activists defect

While the Congress has not taken the help of leaders from other areas for canvassing, the TDP has been utilising the State leaders in phases.

Mudslinging has figured prominently in the agenda of both parties during the campaigning. Obstructing processions by the rival party in the their strongholds has been another feature of the electioneering.

Defection of TDP activists into Congress has been on the up in Ramagiri, Somandepalli and Roddam mandals, the three bastions of TDP.

The confrontational atmosphere has also led to attacks on TDP activists during the past one week.

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