Date:27/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/27/stories/2006052707390500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Call for stronger Communist movement for development

Staff Reporter

KEY ROLE: Visalandhra Editor E. Nageswara Rao speaking at a meeting in Anantapur on Friday. CPI leaders - Narayanaswamy, K. Ramakrishna and M.V. Ramana - are also seen.

ANANTAPUR: Editor of Visalandhra Eedpuganti Nageswara Rao has stressed the need for stronger Communist movement in the country for better development.

Inaugurating the three-day political classes of Communist Party of India (CPI) here on Friday he said country needed a very strong Communist movement in the present juncture for ensuring sustainable development.

The recent assembly elections in four States had strengthened the movement further and it required to be kept continuous.

The Left parties had now reached a stage from where they could play a key role in the policy making in the country. The Left parties could play further people-oriented proactive role if the Communist movement was strengthened, he said.

Powers for local bodies

State president of the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham K. Ramakrishna urged the State Government to delegate 29 powers to the local bodies as enshrined in the Constitution as per 73rd and 74th amendments to it. He alleged that the Government was purposefully delaying the transfer of power and in the process denying the local bodies their due share of constitutional rights.

District secretary of the party M.V. Ramana, deputy secretary C. Jaffer and others also spoke.