Top leaders of major political parties hit the road in Seemandhra on Friday in a bid to woo the voters ahead of the crucial elections after bifurcation of the State. Be it the Congress, TDP, YSR Congress and the newly-launched Jai Samaikyandhra Party, its leaders went all-out to reach out to the voters in all corners of Seemandhra.
Seeking to revive the fortunes of the party, Congress leaders embarked on a bus yatra from Srikakulam where APCC chief N. Raghuveera Reddy with campaign committee chairman K. Chiranjeevi in tow kicked of the party’s election campaign. Not to be outdone, former Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy participated in a road show in Jaggaiahpeta, Vatsavai and Penuganchiprolu in Krishna district.
Continuing with his tour of East Godavari district, YSRC chief Jaganmohan Reddy conducted a road show in Mandapeta which drew a good response. TDP chief N. Chandrababu drove down to Kurnool to address a ‘Praja Garjana’ public meeting.
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The tone and tenor of the speeches of these leaders centred around the bifurcation issue with Congress and JSP leaders trading charges and counter-charges accusing each other.
Addressing a roadside gathering in Srikakulam, Mr. Chiranjeevi alleged that Mr. Kiran Reddy had misled people by withholding information on the packages announced by the Centre.
Mr. Raghuveera said Congress leaders would explain the circumstances that led to the division of the State to the people during the bus yatra. He alleged that several Congress leaders ditched the party after enjoying power. The week-long bus yatra that will cover 13 districts in Seemandhra saw the presence of seniors like M.M. Pallam Raju, Killi Kruparani, Panabaka Lakshmi, J.D. Seelam, C. Ramachandraiah and Kondru Murali.
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During his road shows, Mr. Kiran Reddy gave a clarion call to the Telugus to protect their self-respect as he blamed the Congress and the BJP for dividing the State. Seeking the support of the people, he said two national parties and two regional parties had facilitated the division.
He said the YSRC chief was coming to people to become Chief Minister, while he had relinquished the post for the sake of a united AP.
The YSRC president’s road show was a hit as people thronged the lanes and by lanes of Mandapeta to catch a glimpse of him. On Friday, he chose to refrain from addressing public meetings confining himself to the road shows. Meanwhile, the TDP president was accorded a rousing welcome when he reached the Kurnool toll plaza. He was taken to the city in a huge convoy of vehicles by TDP workers. He asked the people to bury the Congress and bring back the TDP to power.
Earlier, MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi also addressed meetings in Proddatur and Rayachoti in Kadapa district.