Leaders sweat it out to find what voters want

Express News Service
First Published : 04 Mar 2009 03:34:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 04 Mar 2009 09:24:13 AM IST

HYDERABAD: With the elections fast approaching, all political parties are busy giving finishing touches to their manifestoes to lure voters.

The manifesto committee of the TDP briefed its president N Chandrababu Naidu here on Tuesday. The party may release its manifesto any day after March 10 but starting tomorrow, it will announce its policies on key issues such as welfare, health and agriculture every day. And, after every announcement, it will invite suggestions from the public and may accordingly, amend its policies.

The party also promises to constitute a non-official committee, in case it comes to power, to ensure that all its poll promises are fulfilled. The TDP has already promised 25 kg of rice to BPL families for free, extension of the free power supply scheme for farmers to artisans and Rs 1,000 dole to unemployed youth. In all, till date, it has made 200 poll promises! Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam will release its manifesto on March 10. The party manifesto will mainly focus on social justice, change, devolution of powers to local bodies and graft-free governance.

The TRS is also working on its manifesto but has not announced a date so far. The party has promised reservations to Muslims and tribals in a separate State of Telangana – if it becomes a reality. The party’s main agenda will, of course, be the demand for a separate State.

The ruling Congress, on the other hand, is likely to submit an action taken report on the promises it had made in the 2004 elections. The party is pinning its hopes on the development achieved in the last five years. Irrigation projects, social security pensions and the Indiramma housing scheme will be on top of its agenda.

The party may also come out with some more sops to woo voters. The Congress manifesto committee will meet in a day or two to finalise the manifesto.

The Grand Alliance partners - TDP, TRS, CPM and CPI - will go to the people with separate manifestoes. They are planning to formulate a common minimum programme (CMP) after coming to power