Connecting with masses tops AP leaders agenda

Irrespective of their rank in politics, leaders of different political outfits in Andhra Pradesh are hitting the streets in a big way to connect with the masses and get across their message and vision for the State.

While former chief minister late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's daughter Sharmila is close to reaching 200 km mark during her foot march that began on October 18, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu has walked over 500 km in the last 29 days, covering three districts. Chief Minister N Kirankumar Reddy is also touring the State as part of his path-breaking mass contact programme 'Indiramma Baata'.
It is Naidu’s effort through the ongoing 'Vastunna Meekosam' (I am coming for you) Padayatra to regain trust of the people and possibly aiming at the hot seat to assume the reins of the State once again. Sharmila, on the other hand, is on a mission to help her brother, YSRCP president YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

YSRCP leaders say that Jagan, a victim of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the ruling Congress as well as the main Opposition TDP, will bounce back to win the confidence of the people once he is out on bail. She is now the flag-bearer of the 19-month-old YSR Congress Party in the absence of her brother.
Naidu, the 63-year-old Leader of Opposition, has about 2,000 km  more to cover in his yatra, while Sharmila has over 2,700 km path ahead. The TDP chief has been making a series of promises in his bid to woo the people and trying to explain how the State witnessed all-round development during his stint as the chief minister.
Sharmila says Jagananna (elder brother Jagan) will restore Rajanna Rajyam (YSR's golden era) if the YSRCP is voted to power. She says she will hand over the baton (of the yatra) to Jagan midway through the yatra if Jagan comes out of jail on bail.
In the name of a mass contact programme, Chief Minister N Kirankumar Reddy too is making every effort to attract the public and is touring extensively the State. With the Congress High Command having set a goal for him now -- to bring back the Congress to power -- the Chief Minister is straining every nerve to reach it.
But surprisingly, except at some places, in majority of his meetings there are scanty gatherings to hear him. Not an articulative leader, Kiran is also finding it difficult to convince the people and is unable to take his message forcefully into the public. Aware of his shortcomings, the Chief Minister is mostly highlighting the welfare schemes launched in the past nine years.
However, the recent hike in petroleum prices, including the domestic LPG, and acute shortage of power due to which majority of the rural part of Andhra Pradesh is wallowing in darkness are haunting Kiran wherever he goes.
What is worrying the TDP and the Congress circles more is that the unpredicted response to the YSRCP and the large scale migrations to that party, particularly when the Assembly elections are just a few months away.

Sakshipost