TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s padayatra will culminate with a massive public meeting at AU Engineering College grounds. Party leaders claim that it would change the direction of the State and influence national politics.
Former Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao told reporters here that lakhs of people were expected to attend the meeting which would mark the culmination of nearly seven months of padayatra by Mr. Naidu to know the hardships of people, restore the glory of Telugus, chalk out a bright future for them and put an end to the corrupt Congress rule.
Replying to questions on who would attend the meeting besides Mr. Naidu, he said invitations had been sent to all concerned with the party including actor Balakrishna, MP Harikrishna and junior NTR. “If we get any response, we will inform you,” he said.
Party leader Kambhampati Ramamohana Rao said that barring former Prime Minister Chandrasekhar, whose padayatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari went without much of an interaction with the people, none had attempted a yatra on such a big scale as Mr. Naidu. Beginning on October 2 at Hindupur, he was to have ended it on January 26.
But he persisted with the yatra and covered 2,817 km up to the pylon at Aganampudi in 208 days. He had passed through 1,253 villages, 162 mandals, 86 Assembly constituencies and five municipal corporations.
Party urban president Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar said Mr. Naidu would unveil the pylon around 3 p.m. and reach the venue in an open top jeep.
A rally with 10,000 motorcycles would precede him. He said all arrangements were being made to accommodate party members. Ten special trains will run to bring them to the city from various parts of the State, he added.
