Date:29/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/29/stories/2006052905800600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Rajasekhara Reddy brushes aside TDP criticism

Staff Reporter

Advises patience till panchayat poll results are out

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Sunday brushed aside the Telugu Desam Party's criticism that the Government had not been doing anything for the welfare of farmers.

Asked to react to the TDP's resolution passed at the ongoing Mahanadu to this effect, Dr. Reddy quipped: "The results of forthcoming local body elections will prove whether we are doing anything for the welfare of farmers."

He fielded a few questions from reporters at the State Guesthouse here, shortly before leaving for Tirupati, after an overnight stay at the end of a string of programmes in the district.

When his attention was drawn to the TDP's criticism that the Government had not been able to ensure minimum support price for the farmers' produce, Dr. Reddy remarked: "The Mahanadu resolutions need to be endorsed by people. Let's wait till (local body) elections."

The Chief Minister pooh-poohed the main Opposition party's allegation that his Government had given a go-by to the welfare programmes initiated under its regime. "If that is so, did they (TDP leaders) ever feel the necessity to construct 18 lakh houses a year for homeless families," he asked.

Tirupati Staff Reporter writes: Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy made light of Telugu Desam Party president N.Chandrababu Naidu's claim at the annual conclave in Rajahmundry that the party would bounce back to power in the next general elections.

To a query on whether the Congress would try to keep alive its alliance with the Left parties and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), the Chief Minister sought to scotch speculation once and for all by categorically stating that the alliance was very much in place and that there was no reason to believe that the allies were straying.