Express News Service
Last Updated : 19 Jul 2011 11:34:42 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Determined to capture power in the next elections, the Telugu Desam is preparing a strong work force of 2,000-3,000 in every Assembly constituency.
Every polling booth area will have 10 to 15 workers at the rate of one for 100 voters. Besides, there will be a booth committee convener. Each worker will collect information on about 100 voters or 30 to 40 families. He will develop rapport with them and know their aspirations.
Besides this, each worker will collect full information about all the 30 to 40 families, identify their problems and analyse them. He will also analyse the poll trends in 2004 and 2009 and suggest plans to attract new voters and improve the party’s poll percentage.
The booth committee conveners will coordinate with booth committee members and conduct booth-wise surveys to know the pulse of the local voters.
This will help the party assess its strengths and weaknesses and those of rival parties.
This meticulous action plan was rolled out by TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on the first day of a training camp held on Monday for mandal unit presidents.
Around 314 mandal unit presidents of the party from seven coastal districts from Srikakulam to Guntur attended the first day meeting. The classes will be continued till July 23.
A detailed note was circulated to party workers on how to proceed for the next elections. The party directed the booth committee members to attract those voters who had voted for other parties in previous elections.
Analysts feel that Naidu prepared this booth-wise action plan as many TDP and Congress candidates lost by narrow margins in the 2009 elections.
A difference of a couple of votes in each polling booth may change the fortunes of candidates.
The booth committee conveners will be asked to publicise the good work done by the NTR and Naidu regimes and explain to voters how the seven-year Congress rule hampered development.
Naidu said in his inaugural address that though the polls were 2 years and 9 months away, anything may happen in the meantime due to the fluid political situation. In other words, Naidu wanted the cadre to gear up for mid-term elections.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Friday, 17 June 2011
TDP to set up media watch committee
Express News Service
Last Updated : 17 Jun 2011 08:05:20 AM IST
HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam will set up a “media watch” committee at NTR Bhavan to monitor the coverage being given to the party and also to watch the performance of its leaders who take part in panel discussions on television channels..
The party will train its senior leaders on how to talk during TV panel discussions.
The party has also decided to boycott YS Jagan’s media group _ Sakshi TV and Sakshi daily.
An interesting discussion took place at the party’s Politburo meeting on media here on Thursday.
Politburo member and former journalist Kalva Srinivasulu, who initiated the debate, expressed serious concern over the smear campaigning undertaken by some electronic and print media organisations.
The Politburo discussed the media trends for half an hour and felt the need to constitute a committee of experts to closely watch news coverage on TV channels.
The TDP is currently recording all the news telecast on TV channels on daily basis.
“We want to monitor the situation and lodge complaints to media managements if there is scant or negative coverage of us and if undue publicity is given to rival parties,” a Politburo member told Express.
Though the TDP was unhappy with three more TV channels and a recentlylaunched Telugu daily, its main focus was on Sakshi TV and daily newspaper. When YS Rajasekhara Reddy was chief minister he referred to two vernacular newspapers as “aa rendu patrikalu”. The TDP will expose Sakshi in a similar way, sources said. It will ask its leaders not to participate in panel discussions on Sakshi TV.
“When the YSR Congress staged dharnas before the district collectorates on farmers’ problems all the media channels gave it overwhelming publicity. But, in reality, people’s participation in it was very thin,” a Politburo member pointed out.
The Politburo also wanted to keep tabs on its leaders who take part in panel discussions on TV. “We want to observe who are participating in discussions and how they are able to snub the opponents.
Whether TDP leaders are able to convey the party’s message properly during discussions will also be observed,” the sources said.
For this the Politburo decided to train 10 to 15 leaders into TV panel discussion experts.
“The trained leaders will present the party’s views in a better way,” a Politburo member said.
Though the meeting decided to constitute the committee to monitor the news in media, it did not name any leader for the task. However, the Politburo felt that TTDF convener E Daykar Rao successfully faced suspended leader N Janardhan Reddy during a recent TV debate.
“We felt that Dayakar Rao refuted the allegations of Reddy effectively,” a leader remarked. “We have complimented Dayakar Rao for giving a fitting reply to Nagam who is spending more time levelling allegations against Naidu and less on Telangana,” a Politburo member from Andhra region told Express.
Last Updated : 17 Jun 2011 08:05:20 AM IST
HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam will set up a “media watch” committee at NTR Bhavan to monitor the coverage being given to the party and also to watch the performance of its leaders who take part in panel discussions on television channels..
The party will train its senior leaders on how to talk during TV panel discussions.
The party has also decided to boycott YS Jagan’s media group _ Sakshi TV and Sakshi daily.
An interesting discussion took place at the party’s Politburo meeting on media here on Thursday.
Politburo member and former journalist Kalva Srinivasulu, who initiated the debate, expressed serious concern over the smear campaigning undertaken by some electronic and print media organisations.
The Politburo discussed the media trends for half an hour and felt the need to constitute a committee of experts to closely watch news coverage on TV channels.
The TDP is currently recording all the news telecast on TV channels on daily basis.
“We want to monitor the situation and lodge complaints to media managements if there is scant or negative coverage of us and if undue publicity is given to rival parties,” a Politburo member told Express.
Though the TDP was unhappy with three more TV channels and a recentlylaunched Telugu daily, its main focus was on Sakshi TV and daily newspaper. When YS Rajasekhara Reddy was chief minister he referred to two vernacular newspapers as “aa rendu patrikalu”. The TDP will expose Sakshi in a similar way, sources said. It will ask its leaders not to participate in panel discussions on Sakshi TV.
“When the YSR Congress staged dharnas before the district collectorates on farmers’ problems all the media channels gave it overwhelming publicity. But, in reality, people’s participation in it was very thin,” a Politburo member pointed out.
The Politburo also wanted to keep tabs on its leaders who take part in panel discussions on TV. “We want to observe who are participating in discussions and how they are able to snub the opponents.
Whether TDP leaders are able to convey the party’s message properly during discussions will also be observed,” the sources said.
For this the Politburo decided to train 10 to 15 leaders into TV panel discussion experts.
“The trained leaders will present the party’s views in a better way,” a Politburo member said.
Though the meeting decided to constitute the committee to monitor the news in media, it did not name any leader for the task. However, the Politburo felt that TTDF convener E Daykar Rao successfully faced suspended leader N Janardhan Reddy during a recent TV debate.
“We felt that Dayakar Rao refuted the allegations of Reddy effectively,” a leader remarked. “We have complimented Dayakar Rao for giving a fitting reply to Nagam who is spending more time levelling allegations against Naidu and less on Telangana,” a Politburo member from Andhra region told Express.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
No Telangana without Hyderabad: CPI
Express News Service
Last Updated : 16 Jun 2011 07:45:41 AM IST
HYDERABAD: The CPI's first public meeting in support of separate Telangana is likely to place it in a more advantageous position in the region than the CPM, which opposes any bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
Although renowned for mass struggles, the Left parties have both been bystanders as the separate statehood movement has enveloped all of Telangana. But with its impressive public meeting at Nizam College on Wednesday, the CPI has begun a journey to reconnect with the people of the region.
Addressing the meeting, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan recalled that the Left movement had a close relationship with Telangana having waged an armed struggle for the liberation of the region in the 1940s.
Although the party has now decided to wage a struggle for separate Telangana, Bardhan said, the CPI would act independently and not join any other party in furthering the objective of statehood.
“Some have asked us why the CPI has failed to take up the T movement even after declaring support to the cause,” Bardhan said, and explained, “The CPI is not against people of any particular region. There are working class people in all the three regions of AP.” Narrating the 'injustice' meted out to Telangana in united Andhra, Bardhan said that his party's national council decided to fight for separate statehood after several rounds of discussions. Bardhan made it clear that a separate state of T would not be complete without Hyderabad.
When Maharashtra was carved out as a separate state, there were demands for Mumbai to kept out of it.
But this was not allowed, he pointed out.
Last Updated : 16 Jun 2011 07:45:41 AM IST
HYDERABAD: The CPI's first public meeting in support of separate Telangana is likely to place it in a more advantageous position in the region than the CPM, which opposes any bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
Although renowned for mass struggles, the Left parties have both been bystanders as the separate statehood movement has enveloped all of Telangana. But with its impressive public meeting at Nizam College on Wednesday, the CPI has begun a journey to reconnect with the people of the region.
Addressing the meeting, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan recalled that the Left movement had a close relationship with Telangana having waged an armed struggle for the liberation of the region in the 1940s.
Although the party has now decided to wage a struggle for separate Telangana, Bardhan said, the CPI would act independently and not join any other party in furthering the objective of statehood.
“Some have asked us why the CPI has failed to take up the T movement even after declaring support to the cause,” Bardhan said, and explained, “The CPI is not against people of any particular region. There are working class people in all the three regions of AP.” Narrating the 'injustice' meted out to Telangana in united Andhra, Bardhan said that his party's national council decided to fight for separate statehood after several rounds of discussions. Bardhan made it clear that a separate state of T would not be complete without Hyderabad.
When Maharashtra was carved out as a separate state, there were demands for Mumbai to kept out of it.
But this was not allowed, he pointed out.
Chandrababu Naidu to launch a fortnightly
VV Balakrishna
Express News Service
Last Updated : 16 Jun 2011 09:14:09 AM IST
HYDERABAD: After YSR and KCR, it is now Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu who will be directly venturing into the media field. “Obliging to the request of our leaders, I have decided to launch a fortnightly soon,” Chandrababu Naidu said at a meeting with Assembly segment incharges of the party here on Wednesday.
“Some might have started a newspaper and a TV channel with the money collected by blackmailing others, but the 30-year-old TDP, which had been in power for 17 years, feels it still can’t run a daily(newspaper),” Naidu said revealing the rationale behind choosing to launch a fortnightly.
The yet-to-be-named paper, however, will be available only to the active workers of the party and not for general public. Naidu's son Lokesh, however, is now looking after the affairs of Studio-N, a Telugu TV channel.
Naidu also tried to educate his party leaders on how to use technology for the best functioning of the party. A detailed note in Telugu on how to use Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and also the TDP's portal was circulated to important party leaders.
The note explained the TDP membership details and Assembly results were placed on the TDP portal.
Hereafter, information pertaining to party programmes and meetings will be posted on the website and leaders can access it by using the IDs and passwords supplied.
Express News Service
Last Updated : 16 Jun 2011 09:14:09 AM IST
HYDERABAD: After YSR and KCR, it is now Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu who will be directly venturing into the media field. “Obliging to the request of our leaders, I have decided to launch a fortnightly soon,” Chandrababu Naidu said at a meeting with Assembly segment incharges of the party here on Wednesday.
“Some might have started a newspaper and a TV channel with the money collected by blackmailing others, but the 30-year-old TDP, which had been in power for 17 years, feels it still can’t run a daily(newspaper),” Naidu said revealing the rationale behind choosing to launch a fortnightly.
The yet-to-be-named paper, however, will be available only to the active workers of the party and not for general public. Naidu's son Lokesh, however, is now looking after the affairs of Studio-N, a Telugu TV channel.
Naidu also tried to educate his party leaders on how to use technology for the best functioning of the party. A detailed note in Telugu on how to use Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and also the TDP's portal was circulated to important party leaders.
The note explained the TDP membership details and Assembly results were placed on the TDP portal.
Hereafter, information pertaining to party programmes and meetings will be posted on the website and leaders can access it by using the IDs and passwords supplied.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Singur, Nandigram our Waterloo: CPM
Express News Service
Last Updated : 13 Jun 2011 11:43:45 AM IST
HYDERABAD: The two-day Central Committee meeting of the CPM has realised that the mistakes with regard to Singur and Nandigram "proved costly" for the party in the recent elections in West Bengal and wants to take corrective steps at the political and organisational levels to retrieve the lost ground.
"Negative factors accumulated after the prolonged rule in WB," the party leadership noted. After 34 years of ruling, CPM is learning how to play the role of an "alert opposition" in the state. "If the governments in West Bengal and Kerala reverse the good things done by the Left government in the past, we will oppose them. We will stand by the people," CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters after the deliberations.
The party also observed that the very idea of land acquisition in West Bengal led to the party's debacle in West Bengal. The party's review report also identified the organisational defects and shortcomings which had alienated various sections of the people in West Bengal. "There were weaknesses in some of the policies and measures adopted for the welfare of the people. Besides, the people also wanted a change in West Bengal," the party observed.
However, the Central Committee rejected the motivated propaganda that the electoral defeat in West Bengal rendered the CPM and the Left Front politically irrelevant. "The Left Front, despite the adverse circumstances, has got 1.95 crore votes which is 41 per cent of the total votes," Karat pointed out.
Though, the UPA-2 government's corruption and anti-people policies were rejected in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the voters in West Bengal did not consider them as important and they mainly opted for a change in West Bengal, Karat admitted.
On alleged corruption in UPA government, Karat said the Left, particularly the CPM, had a blemishless record in fighting against corruption, and mooted an effective Lokpal legislation to bring the prime minister also under its purview. He also suggested setting up of a national judicial commission to oversee the judiciary, electoral reforms to curb the use of money power and firm measures to break the nexus of big business,ruling politicians and the bureaucracy.
On the absence of former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya from the meeting, Karat said Buddha had informed him in advance that he would not be able to make it. "Bhattacharya's health is not permitting him to travel outside Kolkata," Karat said.
On Telangana Karat said that as the consultation process was over and the Srikrishna Committee had submitted its report, it was for the Centre take a decision now.
Last Updated : 13 Jun 2011 11:43:45 AM IST
HYDERABAD: The two-day Central Committee meeting of the CPM has realised that the mistakes with regard to Singur and Nandigram "proved costly" for the party in the recent elections in West Bengal and wants to take corrective steps at the political and organisational levels to retrieve the lost ground.
"Negative factors accumulated after the prolonged rule in WB," the party leadership noted. After 34 years of ruling, CPM is learning how to play the role of an "alert opposition" in the state. "If the governments in West Bengal and Kerala reverse the good things done by the Left government in the past, we will oppose them. We will stand by the people," CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters after the deliberations.
The party also observed that the very idea of land acquisition in West Bengal led to the party's debacle in West Bengal. The party's review report also identified the organisational defects and shortcomings which had alienated various sections of the people in West Bengal. "There were weaknesses in some of the policies and measures adopted for the welfare of the people. Besides, the people also wanted a change in West Bengal," the party observed.
However, the Central Committee rejected the motivated propaganda that the electoral defeat in West Bengal rendered the CPM and the Left Front politically irrelevant. "The Left Front, despite the adverse circumstances, has got 1.95 crore votes which is 41 per cent of the total votes," Karat pointed out.
Though, the UPA-2 government's corruption and anti-people policies were rejected in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the voters in West Bengal did not consider them as important and they mainly opted for a change in West Bengal, Karat admitted.
On alleged corruption in UPA government, Karat said the Left, particularly the CPM, had a blemishless record in fighting against corruption, and mooted an effective Lokpal legislation to bring the prime minister also under its purview. He also suggested setting up of a national judicial commission to oversee the judiciary, electoral reforms to curb the use of money power and firm measures to break the nexus of big business,ruling politicians and the bureaucracy.
On the absence of former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya from the meeting, Karat said Buddha had informed him in advance that he would not be able to make it. "Bhattacharya's health is not permitting him to travel outside Kolkata," Karat said.
On Telangana Karat said that as the consultation process was over and the Srikrishna Committee had submitted its report, it was for the Centre take a decision now.
'69 stir forced me to move to Delhi for studies'
Express News Service
Last Updated : 14 Jun 2011 12:21:28 PM IST
HYDERABAD: Though the CPM opposes the demand for state’s bifurcation, its Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri, who hails from the Andhra region, admits that a strong sentiment is sweeping through Telangana for a separate state.
Speaking at a meet-the-press organised by the AP Union of Working Journalists here on Monday, Yechuri said: “As there is a strong sentiment for Telangana, the Constitution has been amended several times.” Recalling his experience as a student, he said, “I was a Nizam College student. I was also a Mulki as I had studied in Hyderabad for 12 years. Due to the separatist agitation led by M Chenna Reddy, I moved to Delhi to continue my studies. Otherwise, I would have lost one academic year. An amendment to the Constitution, 371(D), was made in 1971.” He, however, asserted that his party favoured linguistic states and opposed the creation of Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. “But though we had opposed formation of the three new states, the CPM is contesting elections in all the three,” he said and added that CPM’s opposition need not come in the way of the central government creating Telangana state.
“The Centre has to take a decision based on Srikrishna Committee’s report. It can not abdicate its responsibility of taking a decision. But it is dragging its feet on the issue,” Sitaram said. To a volley of questions on the Telangna issue, the CPM leader said he did not want to enter into an argument on the justification of the demand for a new state. “The question had better be directed at those who can take a decision,” he shot back.
On the performance of the UPA government, the expert on economic affairs said the UPA-2 was undermining the common minimum programme (CMP).
Last Updated : 14 Jun 2011 12:21:28 PM IST
HYDERABAD: Though the CPM opposes the demand for state’s bifurcation, its Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri, who hails from the Andhra region, admits that a strong sentiment is sweeping through Telangana for a separate state.
Speaking at a meet-the-press organised by the AP Union of Working Journalists here on Monday, Yechuri said: “As there is a strong sentiment for Telangana, the Constitution has been amended several times.” Recalling his experience as a student, he said, “I was a Nizam College student. I was also a Mulki as I had studied in Hyderabad for 12 years. Due to the separatist agitation led by M Chenna Reddy, I moved to Delhi to continue my studies. Otherwise, I would have lost one academic year. An amendment to the Constitution, 371(D), was made in 1971.” He, however, asserted that his party favoured linguistic states and opposed the creation of Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. “But though we had opposed formation of the three new states, the CPM is contesting elections in all the three,” he said and added that CPM’s opposition need not come in the way of the central government creating Telangana state.
“The Centre has to take a decision based on Srikrishna Committee’s report. It can not abdicate its responsibility of taking a decision. But it is dragging its feet on the issue,” Sitaram said. To a volley of questions on the Telangna issue, the CPM leader said he did not want to enter into an argument on the justification of the demand for a new state. “The question had better be directed at those who can take a decision,” he shot back.
On the performance of the UPA government, the expert on economic affairs said the UPA-2 was undermining the common minimum programme (CMP).
Comrades set to close ranks
Express News Service
Last Updated : 14 Jun 2011 10:06:45 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Faced with an identity crisis after their big defeat in West Bengal and losing power in Kerala, both the CPI and the CPM are in a “hurry” for “reunification”. “We are in a hurry for reunification. But, it will take time as some processes should be completed before the reunification,” CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury said here on Monday. He was speaking at a ‘Meet the Press’ organised by the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ).
CPI national secretary D Raja had echoed similar views in Vijayawada on Sunday and pointed out: “We have been making similar proposals from Harkishan Singh Surjeet’s time. It is up to the CPM to respond.” Asked about the proposal, Yechury conceded that their well-wishers were rooting for reunification, but added, “Unity will happen in two ways. The first, when both parties shake hands and go for a direct merger. But it is not sustainable.” The other way, according to him, was to start the merger process from the grassroots level. “The Left has chosen to go this way,” he revealed and further elaborating said, “We ask our Kisan, Youth and other mass organisations to work together during mass movements. This unity of mass organisations will reach the top. This process is on and we are also in a hurry for the reunification.” He felt that failure to complete the process would not lead to a meaningful unity.
The comrades parted ways way back in July 1964 when radical communists broke away from the CPI and called for a summit in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh. It was at that meeting that the CPM was born. Almost 47 years later, facing both an existential and ideological crises, the two parties are now singing the “reunification tune”. It is ironic that top leaders of both the parties are talking of reunification in the same State where they had once parted ways.
Karat Meets Naidu, Seeks TDP Support
Hyderabad: CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Monday explained to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu the series of attacks on CPM offices and party workers in West Bengal and sought the TDP’s support in opposing the violence. Karat called on Naidu at the latter’s residence and during their one-and-a-half hours meeting, Karat and Naidu also discussed the anti-graft movement and the UPA government’s response to the same. Later speaking to reporters, Karat said the CPM had decided to make Trinamool violence a national issue and that he had sought Naidu’s support.
Last Updated : 14 Jun 2011 10:06:45 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Faced with an identity crisis after their big defeat in West Bengal and losing power in Kerala, both the CPI and the CPM are in a “hurry” for “reunification”. “We are in a hurry for reunification. But, it will take time as some processes should be completed before the reunification,” CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury said here on Monday. He was speaking at a ‘Meet the Press’ organised by the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ).
CPI national secretary D Raja had echoed similar views in Vijayawada on Sunday and pointed out: “We have been making similar proposals from Harkishan Singh Surjeet’s time. It is up to the CPM to respond.” Asked about the proposal, Yechury conceded that their well-wishers were rooting for reunification, but added, “Unity will happen in two ways. The first, when both parties shake hands and go for a direct merger. But it is not sustainable.” The other way, according to him, was to start the merger process from the grassroots level. “The Left has chosen to go this way,” he revealed and further elaborating said, “We ask our Kisan, Youth and other mass organisations to work together during mass movements. This unity of mass organisations will reach the top. This process is on and we are also in a hurry for the reunification.” He felt that failure to complete the process would not lead to a meaningful unity.
The comrades parted ways way back in July 1964 when radical communists broke away from the CPI and called for a summit in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh. It was at that meeting that the CPM was born. Almost 47 years later, facing both an existential and ideological crises, the two parties are now singing the “reunification tune”. It is ironic that top leaders of both the parties are talking of reunification in the same State where they had once parted ways.
Karat Meets Naidu, Seeks TDP Support
Hyderabad: CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Monday explained to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu the series of attacks on CPM offices and party workers in West Bengal and sought the TDP’s support in opposing the violence. Karat called on Naidu at the latter’s residence and during their one-and-a-half hours meeting, Karat and Naidu also discussed the anti-graft movement and the UPA government’s response to the same. Later speaking to reporters, Karat said the CPM had decided to make Trinamool violence a national issue and that he had sought Naidu’s support.
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