TDP manifesto eyewash, says Cong.

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JUNE 30. The Congress has described the TDP manifesto promising devolution of powers to the local bodies as ``eyewash considering the manner in which the authority of these institutions has been eroded in the last five years.''

At separate press conferences, the APCC spokesman, Mr. K. Kesava Rao, and the deputy leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Mr. D. Srinivas, charged that the TDP enjoyed the dubious distinction breaking poll promises with impunity.

The spate of promises made in the election manifesto for the local bodies were also intended to ``hoodwink'' people, they said recalling that the spirit of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment was violated by the TDP Government by not transferring the specified functions to the local bodies.

Mr. Kesava Rao said of the 29 functions were required to be transferred to the local bodies, only 16 subjects were transferred and a parallel authority was promoted through the system of nodal officers.

Mr. Srinivas said the fate of farmers and weavers reflected the ``utter disregard'' of the Government for the problems of people.

Mr. Kesava Rao said in Yaddanapudi mandal of Prakasam district, the TDP, with the help of police, prevented the Congress and other parties from filing nominations for ZPTC and MPTC seats. The party had complained to the Election Commission about this and demanded that nominations be received afresh in these mandals.

The deputy leader of the CLP said people were disgusted with the Government and ready to teach a lesson to the TDP in the coming elections.

Mr. Srinivas said the candidates and local issues weighed with people in the panchayat elections and not the demand for separate Telangana State. The Congress MLAs had not given up the cause of Telangana and they would continue to pursue it with the party high command. He claimed that no ultimatum was served by party MLAs on the high command. The emotional reaction of some MLAs could not be treated as the decision of the Telangana Congress Legislators Forum, he said.

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Section  : Southern States
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