The Hindu : Not in A.P.'s interest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 18, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Not in A.P.'s interest

Sir, — I refer to the snap polls proposed in Andhra Pradesh. If the Chandrababu Naidu Government, with a comfortable majority, cannot tackle extremist violence now, how does it expect to do so when re-elected? It is against the interests of the State and the people to go in for frequent elections as they result in huge expenditure and a slowdown of all development activity. The mandate given by the electorate is for five full years and does not include any arbitrary right to cut short the legislature's life for no apparent reason.

G. Radhakrishnan,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

Sir, — While Mr. Naidu dissolved the Assembly with a view to taking advantage of the sympathy factor in the wake of the assassination bid on him, the Chief Election Commissioner, J.M. Lyngdoh, has categorically ruled out elections in February 2004. Such independent thinking by the CEC is good for the country. Opportunism should not be encouraged.

K.D. Viswanaathan,
Coimbatore, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — Mr. Naidu's move is indefensible. The best mandate is not the one obtained by means of extraneous factors. If a party overrides the anti-incumbency factor, it will surely be an endorsement of its credentials. Anyway, the Election Commission has made others toying with the idea of early polls do some rethinking on their strategy.

N.K. Vijayan,
Kizhakkambalam, Kerala

* * *

Sir, — The Naidu Government was supposed to be a symbol of the reform era. He was eulogised by the corporate world in India and abroad. But all claims of support, it seems, come to naught when the time comes to seek a fresh mandate. Without caring for the cost to the exchequer, the TDP has placed its bet on the emotive issue of extremism.

N. Sekar,
Salem, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — Mr. Naidu had almost another year to go. His argument that he needs a fresh mandate to handle naxalites is not convincing. The handling of the outlawed PWG requires consolidated efforts based on conviction. The solution lies in ensuring that the remote pockets of rural A.P. get the means for a decent living. The caretaker Government is only going to provide days of administrative inaction.

M.D. Dinesan Nair,
Vijayawada, A.P.

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