On the day of issue of the election notification, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu sought to enthuse party cadres by equating them with the Alexander army.
Alexander was the most successful commander who could conquer the world as all soldiers in his army were great warriors like him, Mr. Naidu said during a teleconference with the party leaders and workers on Monday.
“Alexander had an army of 10 lakh soldiers. Each soldier was known to be on par with Alexander. So, he could conquer the world. The TDP has an army of 65 lakh dedicated soldiers who can make impossible things possible. The rank and file of the party should ensure that the victory of the TDP is cast in stone on the day of nominations itself,” he asserted.
“There is a drastic decline in the people opposing the TDP during last five years. Intellectuals and neutrals began supporting the the Telugu Desam. The TDP would bag unexpected majority in this elections. Every household was beneficiary of five to six government schemes, including pensions, housing, fee reimbursement, Anna canteens, employment generation, water and power. If they don't cast their vote in favour of TDP whom would they vote?” he asked.
Mr. Naidu, however, was quick to add, “the welfare schemes would not be continued if the YSRCP is voted to power. The State's image would be tarnished. There would no security to the properties of people. Development would come to a grinding halt.”
Mr. Naidu further said that this elections were crucial for the State and development. Any laxity would harm the interests of the State and standing by the TDP would help in the development of the State, he said.
In a sharp attack on the YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for his criticism of TDP, Mr. Naidu stated that Mr. Jagan has differences with his paternal uncle Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, whose murder stood as centre of political controversy in the State for the last three days now. The Special Investigation Team constituted by the police department will establish truth behind the murder, he said.
The Chief Minister recalled that “Mr. Jagan threatened Vivekananda Reddy to resign from MP seat, when the latter was representing Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency. He became calm only after the intervention of the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi.”
