The Hindu : Mixed response to TDP's campaign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 13, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Mixed response to TDP's campaign

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD JUNE 12. Telugu Desam Party leaders encountered mixed response ranging from public enthusiasm to open threats by the People's War on the first day of the 10-day long political campaign throughout the State on Monday.

The political agenda of these leaders, with the local MLA or constituency in-charge at the helm, is to explain the achievements of the TDP Government, know the local problems, rebut the Congress `propaganda' and establish a rapport with voters during the Jana Chaitanya Yatra which will last till June 21.

A TDP spokesman said the campaign started on an optimistic note everywhere barring a few places where the local MLAs did not turn up due to health reasons. Ministers, who have been empowered to spend up to Rs. 1 crore for resolving the local problems, highlighted during the yatra, led the campaign in their respective constituencies.

In Khammam district, the Jana Chaitanya Yatra was a low-key affair as the threats held out by the People's War to TDP leaders not to enter villages had its desired effect. The police were on high alert wherever TDP leaders mustered courage to ignore the PW's threat and visited the interior areas.

Jana Chaitanya Yatra in other Telangana districts went off more smoothly. In Nizamabad district, the Minister for School Education, M. Venkateswara Rao, was received with fanfare when he visited Nadipalli village in Dichpalli constituency. He promised people that the Government was committed to fulfilling its promise of giving sops to one crore people.

The Transport Minister, M. Damodar Reddy, launched the programme in Karimnagar town by riding a bicycle through some localities. The campaign was not taken up in the Jagtial Assembly constituency where TDP leaders organised a meeting to protest against the killing of a mandal president by naxalites.

It was no easy ride for the Cuddapah MLA, S. A. Khaleel Basha, who was confronted by a group of angry women over drinking water scarcity in the town. However, the call given by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to people to confront the TDP leaders about its perceived injustice to Telangana did not appear to have evoked any response in the region.

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