Bharatiya Janata Party’s election campaign committee president and former Union Minister Daggupati Purandeswari appealed to the people on Thursday to consider her as “datta putrika” (foster daughter) of Rayalaseema, just as they considered her father N.T. Rama Rao as “datta putrudu” (foster son).
Addressing the Kadapa district-level party meeting in A.B. Chandra Reddy gardens at Rajampet, she said that if BJP comes into power, she would ask the BJP leadership to set up a steel plant in Kadapa, in addition to the one proposed at Khammam, and also to establish a railway project at Nandalur in Rajampet constituency.
She promised to strive for development of the backward Rayalaseema region and safeguard its irrigation interests.
Ms. Purandeswari said, she had quit the Congress, none including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Core Committee or AICC leaders gave credence to her contention that bifurcation of the State would jeopardise the economy of the State. Polavaram project would submerge 134 villages in eight mandals and not seven mandals as being projected, she said.
Asserting that the State forged ahead due to the hard work put in by farmers and the working classes, she recited Sri Sri’s verses. She called upon the people to vote the BJP to power and make Narendra Modi Prime Minister, as he was a leader with a vision.
Former Union Minister and actor U.V. Krishnam Raju said voting for the BJP would hasten development of Rayalaseema. The 60-month-rule of Narendra Modi would be better than the 60-year-rule of Congress, he asserted. The surcharge was higher than the power tariff itself, which was an example of the maladministration of Congress, he alleged. Film actor Sivaji called on the people to rout the Congress.
Andhra Pradesh would be developed on par with Gujarat, which was self-sufficient in power and helped farmers raise crops considering the nature of the soil to avert losses, BJP State President Kambhampati Haribabu said. He wanted diversion of Krishna water to Galeru Nagari, Handri Neeva and Telugu Ganga projects. Former MLA of Kadiri Mitta Parthasarathi said the BJP has substantial strength in Rayalaseema and BJP secured one lakh votes in Hindupur Lok Sabha constituency earlier.
BJP leader N. Ramesh Naidu urged youth to vote for BJP for good governance. Senior BJP leader P.V.S. Murthy said Modi was a man with moral values and was pro-poor and would take bold decisions to ensure progress of the nation. BJP leader Shantha Reddy, State vice-president Rachuri Radhakrishna, State executive member A. Harinath Reddy, Yuva Morcha leader Chaya Devi and district BJP president V. Sasibhushana Reddy participated.
