CM optimistic of poverty alleviation

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 29. The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, has said that the Telugu Desam, which has redefined politics and created history at every stage of its chequered existence, is set to reach another milestone by translating its dream of poverty alleviation.

``The day is not far off when we achieve this dream. This is a rare opportunity for you - leaders and the cadre - to share in this endeavour,'' he told partymen on Wednesday, the 18th anniversary of the founding of the Telugu Desam.

It was on March 29, 1982, that N. T. Rama Rao founded the party and rode to power nine months later to form the first non- Congress Government in the State.

A number of Ministers and party seniors gathered at the NTR Memorial Trust to commemmorate the occasion, pay tribute to the founder and also hail Mr. Naidu's efforts to perpetuate NTR's ideals and values and develop the State. The running theme of the speech was that if NTR had stirred political awakening among the people and gave nationwide recognition to the Telugus, their language and self-respect, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, `NTR's true heir,' took the fame and prestige beyond the shores of the country and put Hyderabad and the State on international IT map.

Even while swearing by NTR's basic philosophy, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu referred to the changes that had come over the years, and said ``politics cannot remain statics. It has to mould in tune with times''. Obsolete ideologies and `isms' had lost relevance. Today's politics respected people's preferences for good governance and prosperity. The Congress tried its best to scuttle his reforms and IT initiatives like the HITEC City as it believed in thriving on people's illiteracy and poverty. In contrast, the TD strength stemmed from their awareness and education. The TDP pioneered professionalism in politics while for the Congress politics was itself a profession.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu recalled how the Congress and other sceptics thought the Telugu Desam was a flash in the pan and would disappear and they were proved wrong. The party was in power for all but 6 of the 18 years of its existence. Under the TDP rule, the State found itself on global map and leaders like the U.S. President Clinton visited just to see this for themselves.

The Chief Minister said NTR spawned an all-too new generation of young and educated politicians and gave a new direction to politics.

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