Congress silent on combating corruption: Lok Satta Party

The Lok Satta Party, headed by bureaucrat-turned-politician Jayprakash Narayan, today faulted the Congress for not coming up with a coherent and integrated policy to combat poverty and unemployment in its manifesto.
Reacting to the Congress&apos2009 election manifesto, released here today, the Lok Satta Party said it was significantly silent on mitigating corruption.

In a press release issued here, the party leaders, P Ravi Maruth and P Bhaskar Rao, said the manifesto”did not promise”free and quality education and health care to all, irrespective of their caste or religion.

It is true that nearly 2,25,000 people have been enabled to undergo surgeries under Rajiv Arogyasri scheme. Advertising this, the Congress has sought to”conceal”the fact that millions of people do not benefit under the Arogyasri, the leaders charged.

The duo also pointed out that the Congress has”not spelt out”any strategy to tackle the growing unemployment in the wake of the economic downturn in the country.” That more than 11 lakh youth applied for 844 Group IV posts in the state mirrors the magnitude of the problem,”they said.

It had not talked of making agriculture remunerative and warding off suicides by farmers. It publicised loans at three per cent to women as revolutionary, even as the government”ruined”their lives by promoting liquor consumption, they alleged.

AP Congress releases manifesto, pledges regular power supply

Facing stiff competition from the TDP that has promised several freebies to the voter including TV sets, the ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh released its manifesto for the ensuing elections and maintained that is agenda was to fulfil the development oriented tasks it began five years ago.

Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy released the manifesto that did not have any major claim apart from uniterrupted power supply for all from June and an additional two kg rice per person.

The manifesto contained only a handful of things that are proposed to be launched in addition to the existing schemes.

Prime among the new promises are to increase the quantity of rice from four to six kg per person per month, uninterrupted power supply to all from June 1, 2009, nine-hour power supply to the agriculture sector, provision of LPG connections to every household in the next four years, creation of an additional ayacut of 24.5 lakh acres in Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Prakasam, Nellore and other districts by taking up new irrigation projects after the restrictions imposed by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal were lifted from the contentious Telangana issue. Claiming that his government was not for populism but development, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today lashed out at the opposition for”promising freebies”to the people.
” Ours is not just populism alone. Development has been our priority ever since we came to power in May 2004, Reddy observed while addressing a press conference after releasing the party manifesto for the 2009 elections here.

Claiming that the”aam aadmi”is very happy in Andhra Pradesh, he said that they were not”promising freebies”to the people like the TDP promising free colour televisions and cash transfer scheme.

Replying to questions, APPCC president D Srinivas said, they were seriously pursuing the issue of four per cent reservations for Muslims.”We are strongly pursuing the legal case on reservations and analysing all aspects in this regard. I think we will be finally successful in that,” Srinivas said.

On the alleged injustice done to backward classes in the allocation of party tickets for the elections, the PCC president admitted that they could not achieve their target of 84 Assembly seats as the sitting MLAs had to be re-nominated.Refusing to join the race of populist schemes with the opposition parties, the ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh Monday released its election manifesto, pledging to continue the welfare schemes implemented during the last five years.
Instead of promising any major freebies, the Congress has decided to seek votes on the basis of its “credibility and performance”.

The party, which has already set a goal to build houses for all homeless, promised to make the state free of huts. It promised toilets, electricity supply, gas connection and other basic amenities to every household.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who released the manifesto, told reporters that with the Reliance Industries starting gas production in Krishna Godavari basin and gas connectivity in place over the next four years, the cost of the cooking gas will reduce by half.

Free education from kinder-garden to post-graduation, cooking gas connection and basic amenities to every household, increasing duration of free electricity to farmers and the quantity of Rs.2 a kg rice for poor, are the highlights of the manifesto, which promises no populist schemes like those announced by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi.

Chiranjeevi has promised to make a gas cylinder available for Rs.100 against the existing price of Rs.305. He also promised a month’s ration for a poor family for Rs.100. The party has promised free education up to post-graduation for girls and all students belonging to weaker sections.

The TDP has promised a free colour television and a cash dole of Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000 per month to every poor and middle class family.

Interestingly, the opposition parties have promised to continue the free electricity scheme, which was promised by the Congress in 2004.

“We are promising to continue all development and welfare programs in a more focused and efficient manner in the next five years. During the last five years, we made the common man happy and our goal is to make him even more happy,” said the chief minister, known popularly as YSR.

Listing out schemes like free electricity to farmers, Rs.2 a kg rice, loans at cheap rate of interest, construction of irrigation projects, building of eight million houses for poor, YSR said no other party can even dare to dream of launching and implementing them.

“We are confident that in the matter of credibility, development and welfare, nobody can compete with our government,” he said.

The Congress promised to increase the supply of free electricity to the farmers from seven to nine hours a day from June 1 and hike the quantity of subsidised rice from four to six kg per head for poor families.

While the manifesto is silent on the demand for separate statehood to the Telangana region, YSR reiterated that a committee of the legislature would go in to the concerns and problems related to the demand.The ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh has said it will go to the electorate on the basis of its “credibility and performance” instead of relying on populist promises.

Releasing the party’s election manifesto for the state assembly elections, the Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said he does not believe in competing with other parties in populist promises like giving free electricity or free cell phone to the voters.

“What we are promising is that we will continue all our development and welfare programmes in a more focused and efficient manner in the next five years.

“During last five years we made common man happy and our goal is to make him even more happy”, he said.

While the main opposition Telugu Desam has promised free colour television and direct cash transfer every month to every eligible household, the Praja Rajyam party has offered a pack of monthly food requirement for Rs100 and gas cylinder for Rs100 and the BJP has promised free cell phone, Congress has refused to get in to that race.

The only promises in Congress manifesto in the populist mode are increasing the quantity of the cheap rice and duration of free electricity supply to the farmers.

“The quantity of rice at Rs 2 per kg will be increased from 4 kg per head to 7.6 kg per head per month so the poor families don’t have to buy additional rice from the open market at a higher price”, Reddy said. The increase in the rice quantity will put an additional burden of Rs40 billion per annum and taking the total cost of food subsidy to Rs70 billion per annum, about a quarter of which will come from the centre.

He also promised to increase the supply of free electricity to the farmers from seven hours to nine hours per day from June 1.

Sonia toes YSR line on Telangana

She wooed Telangana State votaries but in the end, voted for Jai Andhra Pradesh
.

A reading between the lines of UPA chairperson and AICC president Sonia Gandhi’s speech at the public meeting in Hyderabad on Saturday left none in doubt that she more or less endorsed the views of Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy on the separate Telangana State issue.

In her brief 10-minute address at the meeting, the second she had attended in as many days, Sonia Gandhi did make a passing reference to the contentious Telangana issue. “Ideologically, the Congress is not opposed to the demand for a separate State,” she began amidst cheers from a section of the gathering.

But the statement came with the usual rider.

“There are various issues that need to be resolved.

There is also the need for a consensus and we are engaged in the process of discussions,” Sonia added, reiterating what Rajasekhara Reddy has been saying all along. Apparently unhappy with her cautious approach to the issue, functionaries of the TRS raised slogans against the party and even hurled chairs. The most interesting part, however, came at the climax. Either by design or accident, Sonia Gandhi concluded her speech with a resounding Jai Andhra Pradesh.

Listing the various welfare schemes taken up both by the Central and the State Governments, Sonia asked the people to make a choice between parties whose goal was to serve people and parties that only looked to grab power. “For the Congress and its leaders, the thought is always about the country and its people,” she claimed

A hung Assembly is likely in Andhra Pradesh

The Bharatiya Janata Party will play a decisive role in AndhraPradesh after the polls as other parties are not in a position to get absolute majority in the ensuing elections.

I expect a hung Assembly as the Congress administration was a failure. At the same time, the Mahakutami led by the Telugu Desam is not in a position to win the hearts of citizens as Mr Chandrababu Naidu had adopted wrong policies during his tenure. And Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam will not be able to reach the magic figure in the multicornered contest.

In this scenario, the BJP’s role will be crucial and its support will be necessary to any party to form the government. This time, the BJP is all set improve its tally and achieve a double digit mark. Our party will also win more Lok Sabha seats as people of Andhra Pradesh are keen to see Mr L.K.Advani as the Prime Minister of the country.

Mr Advani’s charisma and the clarity in his thoughts and policies would certainly attract the voters of the state too. The BJP won several seats with its own strength in 1998 and the same will be repeated this time too.

Educated people such as doctors, professors, software engineers and NRIs are also joining the BJP. It is a clear indication that only our party can assure change in the lives of the people.

During the campaign, we will highlight the misdeeds of the YSR government which is now a synonym for corruption.

Public money has been looted in the name of Jalayagnam which is a nonstarter though the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy, boasted about irrigating 18 lakh acres of additional area under irrigation.

The Congress also deceived the people of Telangana by not carving out a separate state though it had promised to do so during the 2004 poll.

As a national party, BJP is the only party that can fulfil the dream of the Telangana people. The YSR government has failed to maintain law and order. Bomb blasts at Mecca Masjid, Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park are examples for its failures in ensuring peace.

The Congress government is supporting communal forces as part of its vote bank politics. We oppose reservations to Muslims since they are given on the basis of religion.

We will explain the divide and rule policies of the Congress government to the people.

`3 Cong MPs facing criminal charges

The AP unit of the National Election Watch Committee on Monday claimed that three Congress candidates for the Lok Sabha have criminal
charges pending against them.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, the watchdog committee members identified the three as Sarve Satyanarayana, G V Harsha Kumar and D Vittal Rao. All the three happen to be sitting MPs. The fact came to light after the panel filed applications under the RTI Act with the concerned police authorities in the state, the members said. The three MPs are contesting from the Malkajgiri, Amalapuram and Mahbubnagar constituencies respectively.

Releasing the data, the committee pointed out that of the 135 sitting MLAs who have got Congress tickets, 20 are facing serious criminal charges. The charges range from criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery to assaulting a public servant on duty.

Many of these political leaders are also believed to be facing criminal charges relating to poll code violation. Chief minister Y S Rajasekhera Reddy’s name features on this list along with many other Congress leaders.

The panel said it would release a similar list of candidates from other parties after the final lists are out.

As per the list, 10 of the 60 sitting MPs from the state and 60 of the 294 MLAs have various criminal charges pending against them. They include MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who is contesting again from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, and PRP member T Devender Goud, who is expected to contest for an Assembly seat. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu’s name also shows up on the list with leaders facing criminal charges relating to poll code violation.

Appealing to the citizens to vote “intelligently”, members of the election watch committee said the data was compiled to, “publicly demand that political parties do not field candidates against whom criminal charges have been filed.”

Notification issued for 154 Assembly constituencies in AP

Election authorities on Monday issued a notification to conduct polls in 154 Assembly constituencies in the North Coastal Andhra and Telangana regions during the first phase of the election.

The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the filing of nominations by the candidates in these constituencies.

The first phase of the election will be held on April 16.

Over three crore electors will utilize their franchise in the first phase.

The Congress has already announced its candidates for all 42 Lok Sabha and 290 Assembly seats.

Meanwhile, negotiations are underway between the Telugu Desam Party, the Telangana Rashtra Samthi and Left parties for a seat-sharing arrangement in the state.

The BJP has already announced some candidates and the newly formed Praja Rajyam Party is giving final touches to its candidates lists. (ANI)

NTR Junior’s TDP campaign Takes Off With A Bang

NTR Junior’s TDP campaign takes off with a bang; he will address nearly 100 public meetings in his 40-day tour of 10 districts
Can he re-create the mesmerising magic that his legendary grandfather weaved so deftly decades ago? Will he turn out to be the “nextNTR” that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) so desperately needs?

While it remains to be seen whether his mass appeal will stand the test of time, he certainly carriesNTR’s name and clearly bears the sheen of the former matinee idol and politician’s reflected glory.Onhis first road show in Srikakulam district today, Nandamuri

Taraka Rama Rao, Junior, the grandson of NT RamaRao, did prove that he has plenty of punch in his own right too.

As he took to the road in Palasa constituency, braving the heat like a true hero, the 26-yearold actor was overwhelmed by the lakhs of people who turned out to cheer him on.Herecovered quickly and delivered some well-rehearsed punch lines that had the desired effect- the crowds went delirious.
His performance on day one, in fact, was reminiscent of the massively popular show that actor Chiranjeevi took out to promote his PrajaRajyam Party in coastal Andhra late last year.

NTR Junior has been roped in by the TDP to campaign in coastal Andhra, where he is extremely popular. Hewill address nearly 100 public meetings during his gruelling 40-day tour of 10 coastal districts.

Looking lean after weight-loss surgeries in the US, the young actor even wore khakis – a trend his grandfather had started after deciding to launch the TDP exactly 27 years ago on March 12, 1982.

He may not be able to emulate his grandfather’s charisma, oratory and commanding presence just yet, but NTR Junior made the right gestures and spoke with enough conviction to remind people of NTR Senior.

In 1982, after NTR formed the TDP, a mere call from the great actor from temple town Tirupathi to unite for the cause of Telugu pride catapulted him to power within a year and he became the chief minister on January 5, 1983. Telugu Movie News

NTRJunior doesn’t have any political dreams yet. But he reluctantly joined theNTRclan in supporting TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu to revive the fortunes of the party that his grandfather founded. After staying away from family meetings and thwarting Naidu’s dinner diplomacy, NTR Junior seems to have finally relented.

“Before starting his tour from Srikakulam, he took some tips from Naidu. I don’t know if the ice has really broken between them but Naidu and his nephew appeared comfortable. The confidence that Naidu expressed in him may have also inspired him,”

Srikakulam MP and Politburo member K Yerrannaidu said. Yerrannaidu, who accompaniedNTRJunior on the first day today, was himself very surprised at the response from people. “Lakhs of people waited under the hot sun for him,” he said. Knownfor his dancing skills that leave his heroines panting, NTR Junior, an accomplished Kuchipudi dancer, is the son of NTR’s son Harikrishna, a popular actor himself.Hestarted young in the Telugu film industry with his first film Bala Ramayanam in which he incidentally played the character of Lord Rama, a role that was made memorable by the original NTR and still has no equals. He has so far acted in 18 films and is one of the most popular among Tollywood’s young actors. 

Prajalatho Jayaprakashnarayana ( video )

Congress will strike poll gold: Rajasekhara Reddy

The current election fever has become hotter in the State with the entry of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy into political campaigning titled ‘Congress Prachara Jaitra Yatra’. The Chief Minister formally launched his campaigning at a star-hotel here by beating a drum embossed with the words ‘Vijaya Danka’ and ‘234 MLAs and 36 MPs’.

It appears that Rajasekhara Reddy has become more sentimental with regard to the ‘number and the place’ pertaining to electioneering.

As expected, he has decided to launch his campaigning from Chevella in Ranga Reddy district, now represented by his ‘Chellemma’ Minister P Sabitha Reddy.

He is expected to start campaigning from March 25. Though he claimed earlier that the Congress would win 230 Assembly and 35 Lok Sabha seats in the general elections, the figures mentioned on the ‘Vijaya Danka’ drum were 234 and 36 respectively, taking the total figure to the magic number nine.

Addressing media persons on the occasion, the Chief Minister, along with women leaders including ministers J Geetha Reddy and Sabita Reddy, and film actor Jeevitha and Sumathi Mohan, appealed to the people to give another chance to the Congress as the latter required five more years to complete all the pending and ongoing schemes, particularly irrigation projects under Jalayagnam.

Only the Congress had the guts to take up such huge projects in the State, he said.

“We (Congress) will go to the people with the slogan `water to every agricultural field, light to every house and handful of work to citizens’ to seek their votes,’’ he announced.

Rajasekhara Reddy ruled out the inclusion of promises like free colour TVs, cash transfer scheme etc., (as promised by the Opposition Telugu Desam Party) in the Congress election manifesto.

In fact, the Opposition party was trying to ‘copy’ the Congress, he said.

People would not believe Chandrababu Naidu’s promises as the latter had failed to provide free power, loan waiver and increase in support price to farmers’ produce during the TDP’s nine-year rule. Naidu could not prove himself to be ‘pro-farmer’, he remarked.

Asked about candidates’ selection for the general polls, the Chief Minister said there was no need for the Congress to learn from other parties in maintaining ‘social justice’ while selecting candidates.

The party would maintain ‘social justice’ by giving more seats to BCs in both the Lok Sabha and the Assembly elections, he added.

To another query, the Chief Minister quipped, “The Congress will win the gold medal in the election Olympics.

We are not bothered who wins the silver and the bronze.’’