The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Konathala launches ‘sankshema baata’

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Konathala launches ‘sankshema baata’

Special Correspondent

It will be on for 10 days in Assembly segments of Narsipatnam, Chodavaram

We have come to people with a sense of pride, says Ponnala
‘Opposition will lose its relevance
if Congress is
re-elected’

. — Photo:K.R. Deepak

Welfare agenda: Transport Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana and Congress leaders participating in a padayatra as part of the the ’sankshema baata’ organised by the ruling party in Visakhapatnam on Friday

VISAKHAPATNAM: Minister for Commercial Taxes Konathala Ramakrishna on Friday asserted that there existed a strong bond between the people and the government headed by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and any attempt to destroy the bond was bound to fail because that was cemented by implementation of welfare schemes.

Participating in the ‘sankshema baata’ programme in Payakaraopeta, about 100 km from here, the Minister virtually kick-started the party’s election campaign by beating a huge kettle-drum amidst slogans of party workers. Whether in power or out of power, the Congress would be with the people, he said, and added that this ‘padayatra’ would continue for 10 days in the Assembly segments of Narsipatnam and Chodavaram and the final programme would be attended by PCC chief D. Srinivas.

The purpose of the yatra was to explain to people various welfare schemes implemented by the government, expose the misleading propaganda of the Opposition and to galvanise party cadre.

Minister for Major Irrigation Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who earlier inaugurated two irrigation schemes at Boomi and Muta, said that they came to the people with a sense of pride and confidence.

Dig at Chiru

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy’s Government had implemented all its promises and many other welfare measures which had not been promised. He had a dig at Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi. He said Mr. Chiranjeevi had entered politics after making crores of rupees in the film field.

“He is fit to dance in reel life and immediately retire into AC rooms, but unfit to take up padayatras under scorching sun.”

Transport Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana said that the TDP, the CPI(M) and the CPI had joined hands with the sole purpose of defeating the Congress because if Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy ruled the State for five more years, which the Minister was sure, these political parties would lose their relevance once and for all.

According to him, all sections of people were happy in the State and many a State had started emulating the programmes of AP.

Scholarships

Mr. Ramakrishna distributed scholarships and other economic benefits to a number of beneficiaries. ZP chairman Gorle Ramamurthy Naidu, Visakhapatnam Mayor Pulusu Janardana Rao, MLAs D. Srinivas, U.V. Ramanamurthy Raju and other Congress leaders attended the meeting.

In the city, Mr. Lakshminarayana, Mr. Jarndana Rao, Mr. Srinivas and other Congress leaders went on a padayatra as part of the programme.

The padayatra started at the Congress party office and terminated at the Dr. Ambedkar statue at the LIC building.

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