Polit Burearu member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on Saturday exuded confidence that the TDP would win the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, provided the election was conducted in a free and fair manner.
Mr. Ramakrishnudu, a member of the TDP's core committee on the Kadapa by-election, accused the Congress party of misusing the government machinery and the YSR Congress Party of distributing huge money among voters. “Crores of rupees are being given to voters of every segment, which indicates the total failure of the police and the election officers,” he said.
Mr. Ramakrishnudu said that the Pulivendula segment was known for rigging and the TDP had brought the issue to the notice of the Election Commission. “There has been no response from the Commission so far. As we have strong cadre, leaders and voters, we are confident of our victory,” he said.
Referring to paddy procurement, Mr. Ramakrishnudu said both Central and the State governments had failed to protect the interests of farmers. He demanded that the State government revise the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy as Rs. 1,500 per quintal, besides lending permits to export rice. “The Central government is partial towards southern States in general and Andhra Pradesh in particular. The MSP announced in Panjab is quite different from that of Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, no railway rakes have been sanctioned to Andhra Pradesh so far, but the situation is quite different in Punjab and Haryana,” he observed. He said that the TDP would launch a State-wide agitation demanding MSP for paddy. MLC Boddu Bhaskara Rama Rao and senior leader Chikkala Ramachandra Rao were present.
