Accusing the Congress governments in the State and the Centre of being ridden with corruption, TDP Polit Bureau member K. Yerran Naidu has dared the government to hold elections to local bodies and municipalities.
Addressing the party's Jana Chaitanya Yatra against corruption at Gajuwaka on Wednesday, he said the Congress party was afraid of holding elections fearing a drubbing.
During its more than seven years rule, the State was in total disarray and people were betrayed by the Congress, Mr. Naidu said charging the Congress with not implementing the poll promise of 30 kg rice at Rs.2-a-kg and nine-hour power supply to agriculture. To divert attention, it had announced rice at Re.1-a-kg, he pointed out.
TDP under the leadership of its president N. Chandrababu Naidu relentlessly fought against the Rs.1 lakh crore corruption during the tenure of the Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy and the mining mafia and brought out booklets on the issues. It was of no avail and only when he filed a case in the High Court, a CBI inquiry had been ordered.
Describing Congress and YSR Congress as blocs of the same chip, the former Union Minister alleged there was match-fixing between Jaganmohan Reddy and the Congress after the arrest of Gali Janardhan Reddy. During his month-long “Odarpu Yatra” in Krishna district, he had not criticised either the AICC President or the Prime Minister but targeted TDP.
Several leaders broke away from the Congress only to merge with it again and YSR Congress would be no different, he predicted.
Actor Chiranjeevi who swore by social justice and great reformers like Phule and Narayanaguru, merged his party with the corrupt Congress ignoring the will of 70 lakh people who voted for him, Mr. Naidu said.
Former minister Chikkala Ramachandra Rao said only TDP steadfastly fought against corruption as it was founded by NTR on the planks of opposing Congress and rooting out graft.
Mr. Chandrababu Naidu always stood against corruption and extended support to Anna Hazare's stir by holding rallies in various cities in the State.
TDP district general secretary Kona Tata Rao said the yatra was being conducted following the call given by the party president.
Gajuwaka was facing several problems like lack of water supply, displacement due to setting up of various industries while people's representatives were mired in corruption.
Party urban president Peela Srinivasa Rao, Gudivada Nagamani and Corporator Md. Rafi spoke.
