The Hindu : Mahanadu sets tone for new agenda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 30, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Mahanadu sets tone for new agenda

By S. Nagesh Kumar

TIRUPATI MAY 29. The Telugu Desam Party's three-day Mahanadu concluded in this temple town on Thursday marking a watershed in the seven-year-long rule of the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, for the sharp U-turn in his pro-reform agenda.

None was left in doubt that the Naidu Government would aggressively pursue welfare measures during the run-up to next year's Assembly elections after the Mahanadu adopted the six-point `Tirupati Declaration' setting out the TDP's priorities for the coming year.

Agriculture development received top priority in the declaration followed by empowerment of women and youth, development of backward areas, welfare of weaker sections, development and management of irrigation sources and total literacy.

All the 6,000-odd delegates were administered a pledge by Mr. Naidu to strive hard for achievement of these goals.

Mr. Naidu tried hard to justify the reversal of his party's policy by pleading that reforms and welfare measures were not mutually contradictory with even developed countries offering sops for the elderly, the unemployed and the sick. But, his explanation carried little conviction with the delegates as the Mahanadu's agenda itself was tilted heavily towards welfare-related issues with economic reforms, information technology and good governance taking the back seat.

The Chief Minister pulled out all stops during his innumerable speeches to a captive party audience by promising virtually all things to all people confirming earlier reports that the Mahanadu would come out with 'koti varaalu' or a mega package of `one crore boons.'

Mr. Naidu announced a comprehensive set of benefits to farmers while offering separate packages for virtually every caste-based profession, the scheduled castes and tribes, the minorities, women and rickshaw pullers.

All these will cost the exchequer hundreds of crores of rupees considering that the sops to the agricultural sector alone are expected to drain the treasury to a tune of Rs. 700 crores.

What has baffled observes here is as to how the TDP Government will mobilise the money required for implementation these reliefs and concessions. It will clearly be not enough if the State Government revamps the budget for 2003-04 as hinted at by the Finance Minister, Y.Ramakrishnudu, because of the huge amount of funds involved. External sources of funding will have to be identified and tapped.

Mr. Naidu further rationalised the welfare schemes by saying that they were not new for the Telugu Desam since its founder-president, N. T. Rama Rao, had pioneered schemes for supply of rice at Rs. 2 a kilo rice and construction of permanent houses for weaker sections in the State.

In fact, the rice subsidy scheme was being continued even now for one crore ration card holders, though at a price of Rs. 5.50 a kilo. His own Government had spent nearly Rs. 25,000 crores on power subsidies for the agriculture sector.

The three-day event was notable for the Congress-bashing on every resolution by accusing it of thwarting the State's development.

The TDP president himself led the attack on the CLP leader, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, now on a 1600-km-long padayatra, and challenged Congress Chief Ministers in the 16 states ruled by them to match his own record in supplying quality power at low rates to farmers, leave alone providing free power to agriculture.

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