VV Balakrishna
4/22/2009 3:02:00 AM IST
KUPPAM: Alleging that the Congress was resorting to all kinds of irregularities in his native Kuppam Assembly constituency, Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu today gave a stern waring to Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy not to play disruptive politics in Kuppam.
Naidu, for the first time in 20 years, participated in an election meeting in Kuppam today to give moral support to his party workers who complained to him about `goondaism’ of Congress.
Naidu, along with actor Balakrishna, participated in an election rally in the town, which turned out to be a virtual show of strength of the TDP.
An emotionally-charged Naidu wanted Kuppam voters to reject the `money, silver ornaments, liquor’ offered by rivals and support him for a model Kuppam to develop and improvement of conditions in the State.
``Congress leaders are terrorising people in Kuppam.
They even stocked huge quantities of liquor bottles,’’ Naidu alleged. ``Brothers, be vigilant for two more days. Do not fall prey to the decpetive policies of Congress,’’ Naidu appealed to voters.
``I am addressing an election meeting for the first time in Kuppam. Though you requested me to concentrate on other segments I have come here to give moral support to you. The Congress is trying to reduce the polling percentage in the segment. Ensure a huge turnout on the polling day and tell the Congress that that we will protect democracy in Kuppam. Do not be scared of Congress divisive politics. I will protect your lives,’’ Naidu said.
He also appealed to voters to send him to the Assembly for the fifth time with a huge majority. ``I contested from Kuppam for the first time in 1989. The winning margin has been increasing in election after election. Ensure a bigger victory margin this time,’’ he urged the voters.
Naidu addressing an election meeting in Kuppam assumed significance as the Congress has steadily gained ground in the segment in the last five years. ``In earlier elections, no one was seen holding a Congress flag in the segment. But this time Congress leaders are even organising rallies,’’ Ramesh, a local, said.
While the Congress claims that the developmental schemes helped the party improve its position in the segment, TDP workers allege that the Congress is resorting to all sorts of machinations like threatening TDP workers and foisting cases on them.
In the wake of these allegations, Naidu said at the meeting: ``Kuppam voters stand for honesty. The need of police intervention did not arise in the last 20 years. But Rajasekhara Reddy is nursing a grudge against Kuppam voters.
I told Rajasekhara Reddy in the Assembly that if he had any grudge against me, settle scores with me but do not target the Kuppam people and spoil the harmonious atmoshphere there,’’ Naidu said.
``Be careful about Congress leaders. If TDP activists retaliated, no Congress leader would remain in Kuppam,’’ TDP chief warned.
``I never bore grudge against the chief minister’s constituency, Pulivendula.
But whenever Congress came to power in the State they neglected Kuppam,’’ Naidu said and assured to compensate that loss in the next five years.
``I will tour Kuppam first as chief minister. The election is just a formality, the Grand Alliance is all set to win the elections,’’ he said drawing a loud applause.
He alleged that deletion of V Kota mandal from the Kuppam segment was the handiwork of the Congress as it wanted to reduce his victory margin in Kuppam segment and win the Chittoor Lok Sabha seat.
Alleging that the zilla parishad chairman, who had a only a scooter, amassed crores of rupees, Naidu said Rajasekhara Reddy made around 3,000 such leaders in the State by encouraging corruption.
The TDP, if voted to power, would unearth all the ill-gotten wealth of Congress leaders including Rajasekhara Reddy, he said.
Balakrishna and TDP Chittoor Lok Sabha candidate N Sivaprasad also spoke.
vvbalakrishna@epmltd.com
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