World | India
What's anti-incumbency, chief minister Rajasekhara Reddy asks
While opposition parties hoping to make an impression on the electorate in Andhra Pradesh have roped in film stars to make whirlwind tours of the state and hold road shows, state Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has chosen to lead the campaign on his own for the ruling Congress party.
- By Omer Farooq, Correspondent
- Published: 22:46 April 4, 2009
Hyderabad: While opposition parties hoping to make an impression on the electorate in Andhra Pradesh have roped in film stars to make whirlwind tours of the state and hold road shows, state Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has chosen to lead the campaign on his own for the ruling Congress party.
He is confident he will be able to sway the masses in favour of the Congress later this month and claims to have the "impeccable record of meeting all the needs and aspirations of the people" and fulfilling all the promises made in the 2004 manifesto.
Reddy dismisses the populist promises of opposition groups like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), which have been promising voters free televisions and free rice among other things. "We can not make such promises. We are a responsible party," he says.
In an interview with Gulf News in Hyderabad, Reddy, revealed why he remains confident about a Congress victory. Excerpts:
Gulf News: What would be your theme in the election campaign?
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy: The common man should be happy. We have made people happy in the first term and we will make them happier in our second term by putting in hard work. We will tell the people that whatever welfare and development schemes we implemented during the past five years will be continued with more focus and more efficiently.
There is a flood of film stars who are campaigning for the other parties and attracting huge crowds...
That is not a problem for us. Elections are fought not on glamour but on issues. People are coming to see the film stars because it is free entertainment...
We are confident that people will not think about glamour or populist promises while casting their votes but will back the Congress for its good governance and the way it delivered on its promises 200 per cent.
What kind of a result are you expecting?
I am confident the people will give us a mandate for another term on the basis of the work we have done. I am sure that we will win 230 out of 294 assembly seats and 36 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats. We will sweep the polls.
What inspires such confidence?
The credibility of my government. There is no anti-incumbency factor in the state. Whatever little anti-incumbency is there, the gains will be divided between the rival TDP and the PRP. The Congress will bag more than 50 per cent of the popular vote.
Which schemes of your government do you think have gone down well with the people?
To start with, free electricity for farmers gave a new life to the community and the rural economy. We waived off the debt of farmers. Loans to women's self-help groups at 3 per cent interest have done wonders for their economic emancipation and one crore women have benefited from the scheme.
About 83 lakh students have benefited from the scholarship schemes. We had not promised a scheme to supply rice at Rs 2 per kg but we introduced it keeping to insulate the poor from the price rise. It has benefited 80 per cent of the state population.
The Muslim community had extended support to the Congress in 2004. Where do they stand now?
They are firmly with us. We have fulfilled every single promise made to them. We have implemented the promise of 4 per cent reservation in jobs and education for the community and provided for scholarships and fee reimbursement.
Do you see the four-party grand alliance in the state as a threat?
Well, the alliance is limping. If Chandrababu Naidu and Chandrasekhara Rao (leader of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi) are not able to get along, I feel sorry for them. 16.
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