Between exchanging nama-skarams (no shaking hands fearing injury and infection) with villagers in the sparsely populated but picturesque Jharasangam, Nayakal and other mandals in Medak, and smiling for photo-ops with locals, Telugu Desam chief Chandrababu Naidu spoke about his party’s future.
He has been promising the electorate the sun, moon and everything in between, if voted to back to power, and is confident that the TD will be triumphant in the 2014 elections.
Excerpts from the interview:
What were your experiences in the 54 days of your padayatra?
Shocking! I am appalled with the misery in rural and urban areas. People are reeling under power cuts, shortage of water for drinking and irrigation purpose, lack of basic amenities. There are no jobs, but prices and taxes are rising. But my padayatra has received overwhelming response; it has enthused party leaders and cadre and brought a new josh in them. Though my legs are aching, my mission will continue.
You are promising the moon to the people? Can all this be implemented within a limited budget?
I haven’t promised the moon. I am promising what can be implemented with effective administration.
The Congress and YSRC question how you can implement the loan waiver scheme?
We will implement it at any cost. In fact, the money looted by the YSR family is enough to waive loans of all farmers thrice over!
While you have been on your padayatra, some TD leaders have left. Some are leaving for YSRC and other parties...
YSRC is a bubble that will burst soon. What is their ideology, looting the state? The leader is in jail for wrong-doing and to counter me, they have sent her (Jagan’s sister Sharmila). Those who quit TD?and those who are planning to quit will regret for life.
Will not an exodus affect TD and unnerve the exis-ting leaders and cadre?
Not at all. You have seen Prajarajyam; It has vanished without a trace and merged with the Congress. YSRC, TRS will follow soon. You can’t run a party buying MLAs with ill-gotten wealth. I was told Jagan is demanding huge amounts for MP tickets.
Yet leaders are going to YSRC, TRS and Congress. Why?
You should ask them. YSRC has no foundation, TRS has lost its sheen and the Cong-ress has become a symbol of corruption and incompetence.
You plan to release the lists for Lok Sabha and Assembly candidates much before polls like Mulayam Singh Yadav. When will it be out?
In maximum two months. In fact, Mulayam garu spoke to me and suggested to release the list of MP candidates first. This will give time for them to gear up in case of a snap poll.
Do you expect a snap poll?
Can’t say. All parties are gearing up. The fact is none are keen on early polls. But we are ready to face it any time.
Will Lokesh enter active politics in TD and contest 2014 elections?
The decision is left to him.
Actor Balakrishna plans to contest the next Assembly polls…
We welcome it.
Congress, YSRC and TRS describe you as anti-farmer and one who described agriculture as a waste and focused only on technology during your rule...
It’s false propaganda. I said agriculture should be made remunerative and farmers should also take up allied agriculture-related avenues to improve their income. Is it wrong?
Some analysts and rivals have written off TD?and Naidu in 2014 polls...
You’ll see (smiles). There is an undercurrent in favour of TD after seeing the rot in administration. We will return to power.
You had made similar claims in 2004 and 2009.
People are fed up with corrupt and incompetent Congress rule both at the Centre and in the state. They don’t want to repeat the mistake of voting for them or try new parties.
There is talk that YSRC will sweep Rayalaseema, Andhra regions and TRS Telangana?
YSRC is a Cong-ress offshoot. One is Talli (mother) Congress, the other is Pilla (child) Congress. People will not back a corrupt YSRC that has no foundation or TRS that is taking people for a ride with T-slogan since years.
TRS asks why you don’t directly support Telan-gana instead of repeatedly saying ‘I am not opposed to Telangana’?
I am not opposed to Tela-ngana, will not oppose it and have never opposed it. The Centre has to decide.
What’s your trump card for the next polls?
A corruption-free, stable government, strong administration, effective law and order, nine-hour power to farm sector and power cut-free domestic and commercial sector. We will reduce expenditure and and make agriculture remunerative. We will put the derailed state back on rails.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is celebrating two years of his rule. How do you describe his term in office?
Where was the rule to celebrate? The CM is battling daily to save his gaddi and protecting corrupt, wrong-doer ministers... Dharmana for instance. There is no semblance of administration anywhere. Ministers, MLAs, officers have no respect for him.
He (Kiran) is a sealed cover CM nominated by Sonia Gandhi. And also a kirkiri CM. He has even ignored UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s suggestion to provide nine LPG cylinders by linking three cylinders to the Deepam beneficiaries only.
His achievements are incompetence, imposing unprecedented power cuts, closure of industries, poor administration, taxing people and denying basic and affordable amenities.