The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Lukewarm response to Mee Kosam

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Lukewarm response to Mee Kosam

Ramesh Susarla

Polit Bureau meeting at Piduguralla was high point

Yatra began with a bang at Vinukonda on April 26
Naidu makes a slew of promises

MACHERLA (GUNTUR DISTRICT): Except in a few towns, the response to Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s six-day Mee Kosam Chaitanya Yatra in Guntur district was lukewarm.

The campaign began with a bang at Vinukonda on April 26 when a large number of people turned up at noon to listen to the Opposition leader. People occupied every vantage point at Sivaiah Stupam Centre. The other towns where reasonably good number of people turned up were Sattenapalli and Macherla.

Ironically, at Chilakaluripet, the party’s stronghold and also the hometown of party district president Prattipati Pulla Rao, cadres outnumbered people.

The tour would be remembered for conduct of the party’s Polit Bureau meeting at Piduguralla, for it brought all the leaders out of the four-year hibernation. The yatra was supposed to be for knowing the difficulties, aspirations and pulse of the people. But, except for receiving a couple of representations at some places, Mr. Naidu devoted most of the time to address the people dwelling at length on how the party and its leaders had suffered at the hands of the Congress.

A slew of promises made by the former Chief Minister were a highlight. He promised to give free gas and free houses to the poor, waive of all types of loans.

He even asked them not to repay any loan availed as he was sure the party would come to power in 2009. For the farmers, he promised free power for 12 hours during daytime. He also promised to develop the ‘backward’ Palnadu region, which he said was neglected by the present government.

He also promised to develop Karempudi village into a tourist centre to remind people of the valour of Palnadu people as that was the venue for the famous ‘Palnadu war’ fought by Brahmanaidu.

A sea change was seen in the attitude of Mr. Naidu as he gave priority to workers and leaders. Local leaders spent a lot in mobilising people and putting up banners and arranging vehicles to follow the convoy of Mr. Naidu.

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