TIRUPATI: After successfully demolishing the principal opposition party YSR Congress by engineering defections, TDP supremo and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu now wants to consolidate his hold on power by extending reservations and other welfare schemes even to people from the forward castes. Naidu, who kickstarted his party's three-day annual convention Mahanadu at Tirupati on Friday by sharing the dais with his son and party general secretary Lokesh, gave a call to party cadres to make sure that the TDP would not lose power again, even at the panchayat, mandal and municipal levels.
During the mega event, attended by his party functionaries from all levels and his brother-in-law Balakrishna, the TDP boss said: "We were once out of power for 10 long years. Henceforth, we shouldn't take any chances. Our party should remain at the helm in the state for the betterment of Telugus." He was delivering his inaugural address in the mega event, organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of party founder N T Rama Rao, which falls on May 28.
Referring to the recent elections held in five states, in which AIADMK retained power in Tamil Nadu and the TMC in West Bengal, Naidu told his party leaders, "Like the ruling parties in TN, Odisha, Gujarat and West Bengal, our party too should be able to continue in power in the state for a long period. I want us to remain in power forever."
To achieve this task, Naidu wants to extend populist schemes, now being implemented for the weaker sections, even to the poor people of the dominant castes.
"We are already implementing various welfare schemes and reservations for SCs and BCs. We are also taking steps to provide reservations to Kapus. Likewise, I want to provide reservations to poor people belonging to the other castes. This Mahanadu should discuss this proposal thoroughly," Naidu said to thunderous applause.
Notable absentee
Party founder NT Rama Rao's son and Naidu's bro-in-law Harikrishna was conspicuous by his absence at Mahanadu. He is said to be sulking that the TDP boss is grooming his Lokesh.
Blow hot, blow cold
While some TDP leaders such as Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary targeted the BJP for not fulfilling promises made to AP, chief minister Naidu gave clear indications that his party would not sever its ties with its ally for now. He said, "Some opposition parties are demanding us to adopt a bellicose attitude towards the Centre. There is a game plan behind their demand. We know it well."
However, Naidu reminded the Centre of its unfulfilled promises made to the residuary state, saying, "Even after two years of the state's bifurcation, several promises have remained unimplemented. It is the responsibility of the Centre to ensure that all words given to the State are implemented." Chowdary, however, minced no words. In his speech at the Mahanadu, he said, "The BJP is acting smart on the promises given to the State. Of the Rs, 9,000 crore needed to establish national level institutions in the State as per pre-bifurcation promises, only Rs 130 crore has been given so far. How can the BJP claim it is implementing all promises?"
Warning to Jagan
Naidu indirectly warned Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy that the latter's assets would be confiscated by the state government. "We will invoke recently made laws, which permit the government to seize the ill-gotten wealth amassed by corrupt persons. Jagan's family is the real address for corruption and violence in the State."