VIJAYAWADA: The opposition parties have warned to hit the streets if state government fails to regularise services of 24,000 contract employees of the electricity department with immediate effect.
On Sunday, left-wing party leaders, along with YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and Janasena, convened a meeting with agitating employees to discuss on the future course of action. Addressing a press conference, CPM State Secretary P Madhu came down heavily on Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for neglecting needs of contract employees responsible for ensuring smooth operation of the power supply in the state.
CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna seconded Madhu’s concerns and said, “Till date, there is no response from CM Naidu even after submitting representation regarding the indefinite strike called by the electricity employees.” He added that it was the electricity employees who put in all they had to restore power supply in 48 hours in Visakhapatnam when Hudhud cyclone left behind a trail of damage.
Former MLA and YSRCP leader Vellampalli Srinivas also took a dig at the ruling TDP. Several employees face severe hardships to meet their daily needs and hundreds of workers have lost their lives while on duty, he said.