HYDERABAD: Top leaders of all political parties have stormed Karimnagar and Warangal, the heartland of Telangana region and showered promises on the electorate in return for support to their candidates.
The campaigning has reached a feverish pitch with the polling day drawing closer (April 16). The leaders toured extensively in the hinterland of Telangana. The day began with AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi addressing an election rally in Godavarikhani in Karimangar district.
Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy speaking at Godavarikhani, Sircilla and Korutla in Karimnagar district and Bodhan in Nizamabad district, assured a hut-free State in one year, if Congress was voted to power.
In Korutla, Praja Rajyam Party founder Chiranjeevi alleged that the Congress schemes failed to reach the people. Arogyasri, the health insurance scheme, turned as `Avineetisri’, he alleged. Explaining the PRP’s schemes, Chiranjeevi said heckling cine actors who entered politics became a fashion for the Congress leaders.
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhara Rao, addressing roadshows at several places, alleged that the Congress had hoodwinked the people of Telangana after coming to power. Stating that the TDP had assured help in the formation Telangana State, he said statehood would be realised, if Congress was thrown out.
TRS general secretary and Medak Lok Sabha candidate Vijayashanti, who toured in Karimnagar district, appealed to voters to support the TRS to keep the Telangana movement alive. She blamed TRS rebel candidate KK Mahender Reddy in Sircilla for attacking TRS candidates.
TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu participated in roadshows in Anantapur where elections are due in the second phase. He alleged that the Congress was responsible for the corruption. Alleging that the Congress government had misused public money in the name of cloud-seeding, Naidu called upon the voters to defeat it.