Date:01/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/01/stories/2008050152010300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP chief cheating voters, says YSR

Staff Reporter

Praja Patham meeting held at Gangavaram

Good response to Praja Patham meeting
TDP accused of treachery and betrayal

PALAMANER (Chittoor dist): Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday donned the role of a spiritual guru and taught a few moral lessons on credibility, accountability and sincerity at the Praja Patham meeting organised at Gangavaram near here.

Needless to say, the ‘preachings’ were aimed at his arch rival and Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, whom he accused of cheating voters.

Dr. Reddy arrived here to a thunderous response from the public, who gathered well in advance braving the simmering heat wave.

The Chief Minister appeared a bit relaxed when he started bashing the TDP with the ‘credibility’ whip.

Getting into a philosophical mode, he explained how fulfilling poll-eve promises would endear a leader to the masses and on the other hand how a politician would have to incur the public wrath if he tried to hoodwink them again and again, obliquely referring to the TDP regime.

Promises diluted

Dr. Reddy did not merely target his fusillade of charges against the TDP, but took meticulous care in explaining his stand point-by-point.

He recalled that the public had voted the TDP to power in the 1994 general elections, keeping faith in late N.T. Rama Rao’s three promises, viz., rice at Rs.2 a kilo, total prohibition, and power for 1 horse power motor at Rs.50, which were however diluted by his successor (Mr. Naidu).

“In sharp contrast, we not only fulfilled all our promises such as completion of pending irrigation projects, interest at 25 paise to DWCRA groups, hike in old age/widow pensions and revival of closed industrial units, but are going that extra mile to provide relief that we never announced,” he said and went on to add: This is what is called credibility.

Accusing the TDP of treachery and betrayal, he asked, “Do you think people of the State will ever believe in your words?”

Deputy Speaker G. Kuthuhalamma, Ministers A. Ramanarayana Reddy, R. Chenga Reddy and G. Arunakumari, Chief Whip N. Kirankumar Reddy were among the other participants.