Date:26/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/26/stories/2008012658760900.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Congress, TDP accused of ‘competitive populism’

HYDERABAD: Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan on Friday charged the Congress and Telugu Desam with indulging in ‘competitive populism’ in their quest to get power at any cost. The recent offer of ‘mangalasutrams’ was ‘probably a corrupt electoral practice’, he told a press conference here. The 33 per cent reservation offered by Telugu Desam for BCs was aimed at ‘deceiving’ people, he stated. Dr. Narayan charged ‘traditional’ parties with doling out sops as if they owned the State treasury. He announced that 157 party offices would serve as ‘citizen service centres.’