Telugu Desam leaders sound poll bugle

Visakhapatnam: The Telugu Desam leaders on Sunday sounded poll bugle for the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation elections scheduled to be held either in September or October. Ministers, MLAs and top leaders of the party asked the party workers to get ready for the elections at the Urban Mini-Mahanadu held here on Sunday.

Leaders asked the party workers to bury their differences and work unitedly to win the mayoral elections. The Ministers from the district has hinted that the TDP will contest the civic body polls in alliance with its partner at the Centre and State, BJP and seats to the saffron party will be accommodated without damaging the prospects of TD workers.

Ministers Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Kollu Ravindra, and Ch Ayyanapatrudu said that there were chances that the GVMC polls will be held either in September or October and asked the cadres to strive hard from to win all the awards. Addressing the party workers, HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said they should be ready to face the GVMC polls which are expected either in September or October.

“Every party activist should strive hard so that all the words could be won by the TDP. You all should get on to the ground and start visiting wards from now onwards. All the activists should be available for the public to solve their problems if any,” the Minister said.

The Urban Mini-Mahanadu passed the resolutions seeking the State government to resolve the issues of pollution caused by Vizag port, implementation of house committee for Gajuwaka lands, Simhachalam Pancha Gramalu issue on encroached lands and filling of nominated posts.

Meanwhile, Minister for Panchayat Raj Ch Ayyanna Patrudu took strong exception to the contradictory statements made by the BJP senior leaders in Vizag and New Delhi about the construction of capital at Amaravati. He was addressing a gathering of TDP leaders and activists at the rural Mini- Mahanadu organised by the party rural district president and MLC P Chalapathi Rao at Darlapudi village in S Rayavaram Mandal in the district on Sunday.

The Minister reminded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended the stone laying ceremony at Amaravati, assured help for the construction of capital. He found fault with some BJP senior leaders for playing the State government stating that it is spending lavishly on the construction of capital.

Special Category Status and separate railway zone issues could be achieved amicably by continuing political alliance with the BJP, he added. He said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been striving for the all-round development of the State even with the deficit budget.

Meanwhile, he asked the farmers either to desist their farm tanks or dig new tanks for which 14th Finance Commission funds would be provided. He further stated: “A true politician is one who focuses on development only to remain in the hearts of the people.” Anakapalli MP Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao admitting that the people of Andhra Pradesh are seeking Special Category Status as was promised in the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act and said that they will never work against the sentiments of the people.

“Safeguarding the State’s interest is our priority,” he added. Party rural district president and MLC P Chalapathi Rao said that the Mini Mahanadu will pass resolutions taking opinions and suggestions of the party leaders and activists which will be presented in the State Mahanadu.

Payakaraopet MLA Vangalapudi Anitha and party youth leader Chintakayala Vijay also spoke and the meeting was presided over by MPP S Vinod Raju. Former MLA Kakara Nookaraju, party leaders Thota Nagesh, P Chittibabu, Koppisetti Venkatesh, T Earnaiah and L Kasinaidu besides a large number of activists attended.