Date:01/12/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/12/01/stories/2003120104120400.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Free power slogan a poll gimmick: Naidu

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Nov. 30. Deriding the `free power' slogan of the Congress, the TDP president and Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has said the TDP Government is also capable of implementing the scheme but it would adversely affect investments.

He called the slogan a poll gimmick, which the Election Commission has taken serious note of. A similar attempt of the Congress Government in Madhya Pradesh to lower power tariff before the elections in the State was disallowed by the EC, Mr. Naidu said here on Sunday at the inauguration of a workshop for 131 senior members of the party who constitute the core group to coordinate the preparations for the elections to the State Assembly.

Mr. Naidu said the Congress gave a call for free power in the State while doing nothing of the sort in 15 States under its rule. All these States were trapped in debt. He accused the party of taking political mileage from naxalism, while the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) went to the extent of expressing willingness to take the support of extremists to win elections. The Congress is supporting the acts of the naxalites "directly and indirectly."

Making a strong case for taking the dubious tactics of the Congress and TRS to the people, the Chief Minister urged the core group to focus their hunger for power. The people at large backed the TDP and responded positively to its programmes. He urged the TDP leaders to repeatedly tell the people about the achievements of the State Government. They must analyse the claims of the rivals and hit them back in the same tone.

The State has been a trendsetter in every sector. Irrigation has seen a phenomenal growth with 10 lakh acre additional ayacut created by the TDP Government at a cost of Rs. 9,000 crores. Unfortunately, the river inflows into the State have been affected due to construction of dams upstream in Karnataka and Maharashtra. The Government will mobilise Rs. 1,000 crores through bonds for the development of irrigation, Mr. Naidu said.

He said the farmers were satisfied as the Minimum Support Price was maintained for all agricultural products. Unless the rural economy improves, the purchasing capacity of the people will not improve.

He promised cent per cent or more coverage of beneficiaries under the `one crore' boons programme in the next month or so. Stating that he had always concentrated on development except when the elections were around, Mr. Naidu criticised the Congress and the TRS for not acknowledging development.