TDP rediscovers welfare mantra, funds villages

In an apparent attempt to counter the charge of being pro-urban, the ruling Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, which released its poll ma...

In an apparent attempt to counter the charge of being pro-urban, the ruling Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, which released its poll manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, envisaged a ‘‘golden future’’ for the state by allocating Rs 60,000 crore for key sectors of rural development, agriculture and irrigation in the next five years.

Releasing the manifesto, party chief and caretaker Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu unveiled a slew of sops for women, youth, farmers, backward classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and people in backward areas.

Of the package, Rs 30,000 crore will be spent on irrigation, Rs 10,000 on agriculture and the balance on creation of infrastructure and providing minimum needs in rural areas. Besides, an amount of Rs 12,890 crore will be spent on health and Rs 12,284 crore on laying new roads and maintaining them.

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A significant statement in the manifesto is that the TDP, if voted back to power, would take up the Polavaram and Ichampally projects across the river Godavari for inter-linking of all rivers in Andhra Pradesh.

The 30-page poll document tiled Bangaru Bhavishyattu (Golden future) indicated a shift in the party’s priorities which it had been following in the past nine years. Completion of pending irrigation projects and securing remunerative prices to farmers topped its agenda.

Promising an ‘‘Ever Green Revolution’’ to farmers, the ruling party, which is seeking a third term, assured that it would work out a comprehensive crop insurance scheme, Rs 200 crore price stabilisaion fund and a rebate of five per cent on interest to crop loans for members of farmers clubs.

The manifesto, which was silent on the demand for a separate Telangana state, promised a developmental council to ensure speedy growth of all backward areas in the next five years.

The police said the trio from Chandigarh — Rohan (21), Sumit (22), and Mohit (19) — were dhol players by profession and had procured the weapons due to an old rivalry with local residents.

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