AP CM Naidu in Kakinada, YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy conspicuous by absence

AP chief minister said that the development of Kakinada as a clean and green smart city was possible only with the TDP-BJP combine at the helm of affairs.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu speaking at a massive road show while campaigning for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elelctions in Kakinada on Saturday | Express

KAKINADA: Exuding confidence that his side would win the Kakinada Municipal Corporation election slated for Tuesday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said the new mayor of the coastal city would be a TDP-BJP candidate and there should not be any doubt about it.YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, who had said that he would begin campaigning in the municipal corporation on Saturday, was conspicuous by his absence. Party sources said the leader was indisposed.Addressing a series of well-attended public meetings here, Naidu said the development of Kakinada as a clean and green smart city was possible only with the TDP-BJP combine at the helm of affairs. “Be it the YSRC or any other party, they cannot develop the city. Going by past records, they will only create problems and corrupt the regime,” he said. 

Kakinada has not had an elected civic administration since 2010. 
The Chief Minister said the government would address all the problems Kakinada was facing despite making it to the country's smart city list, including poor drainage systems and roads.
“Till 2014, only 8 km of the drainage system was developed. After we came to power, we constructed another 35-km -long drainage system spending `22 crore. In the coming years, we will spend another `410 crore to construct a 78-km-long stretch.”

V-P Venkaiah Naidu, CM Chandrababu Naidu, and Governor E S L Narasimhan greet people during a procession from Gannavaram to Krishna Barrage on Saturday| Express

“Similarly, roads second only to Puducherry and Chandigarh, will be developed and in the next two years all houses will be provided 24/7 drinking water supply,” Naidu promised. 
Meanwhile, Naidu did not forget to remind voters that it was he who promised reservations to the community in his election manifesto. 

6 TDP rebels suspended
Kakinada: Taking serious note of six rebels contesting as independents in the civic poll, the TDP suspended them on Saturday. After the election was announced, 11 TDP leaders filed their nominations in divisions allotted to the BJP.  But five of them retired while six continued in the fray. They are:  S Appalakonda, S Lakshmi, P Nagamalli, B Ganga Bhavani, B G Bhavani and D Uma.

‘EC order ineffective’
Hitting out at YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy for derogatory remarks against him, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the Election Commission's order directing criminal proceedings against Jagan had done little to change his attitude.