The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Praja patham’ a farce: TDP leader

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Praja patham’ a farce: TDP leader

Correspondent

Government criticised on price rise

No action on earlier representations, alleges Kala
Party nominee for bypoll to file papers on May 6

VIZIANAGARAM: “Praja patham is a major farce. Fearing confrontation no elected representative is attending it,” says Kala Venkata Rao, TDP deputy floor leader in the Assembly.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Venkata Rao said that there was no mention of the action taken on the representations the people had submitted in the last three phases of ‘praja patham’. Barring officials, no elected representative was attending the programme. In spite of the tall claim of the government that pensions and houses were being given to all the eligible, senior citizens were seen seeking pensions at the programme, he said and added that notwithstanding eligibility criteria those who were able to manage middlemen were getting the benefits.

Bypoll campaign

On price rise, he said that both Centre and State governments had failed to control them.

Though the State government announced market intervention fund of Rs.100 crores not a rupee was released to Markfed, he said and criticised the government for encouraging middlemen.

Mr. Venkata Rao said that TDP candidate Tentu Lakshmi Naidu would file papers at 1 p.m. on May 6 for the by-election to Therlam Assembly constituency. Under the aegis of P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Polit Bureau member, the campaign would be intensified, he said.

Mr. Gajapathi Raju, who was present, said that “Lok Satta Party that has named Reddi Lakshmi Naidu as its candidate for the same seat recently was an ‘untested force’ and TDP’s campaign would target the government’s lopsided policies and programmes.

Mr. Tentu Lakshmi Naidu, party district president Y. Ramana Murty, MLA Padala Aruna and others were present.

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