The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP makes inflation campaign issue

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Thursday, May 15, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP makes inflation campaign issue

S. Harpal Singh

Hoardings comparing prices during TDP rule and Congress regime put up

Congress leaders give prepared answers to questions related to inflation
TRS agenda limited only to realisation of separate Telangana

Campaign material: A TDP campaign hoarding details the rising prices of essential commodities by drawing a comparison between prevalent prices and those that existed during the TDP rule.

ADILABAD: While the ruling Congress leaders do not seem to have a plausible answer, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is least bothered about the question of the crippling inflation. Only the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has given price rise of essential commodities top priority as a campaign issue in the byelections to Adilabad Lok Sabha and Khanapur (ST) Assembly constituencies.

As the TRS agenda is limited only to realisation of the demand for a separate Telangana State people are not bothered about the view held by that party over the issue of price rise.

Congress leaders in both the constituencies on the other hand are being questioned on why the Government does not do anything about the torturing inflation.

Readymade answers

For example, the residents of the slum areas of Mahalaxmiwada and Chilkuri Laxminagar in Adilabad wanted Adilabad MLA C. Ramchander Reddy to give reasons for inflation being so bad.

The MLA conceded that the inflation was bothersome indeed.

The State Government had infact introduced the Rs. 2-a-kg rice scheme to counter the impact of the rising prices, he said. Besides, the supply of dal and edible oil at cheaper rates will be taken up by the Government in June, this year he added.

This constitutes the stock answer of Congress leaders who go campaigning in the two constituencies on being asked uncomfortable questions on the issue.The TDP has made methodical preparations to go to the people with the problem of price.

It has made efforts to project this burning issue even through election related publicity material.

Price comparisons

Large sized hoardings that compare prices of essential commodities during the last TDP Government and the present Congress Government have been put up at important places in every mandal under the Lok Sabha constituency.

“The issue of corruption in high places too is a burning issue. However, as the question of price rise concerns at large section of the society that is under privileged, we have latched on to it to expose the Government,” said B. Goverdhan Reddy, district president of Telugu Rythu and one of the campaign managers of the party.

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