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Chiru blames successive governments for poor healthcare facilities in State

HYDERABAD:

Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi said on Sunday that ‘callousness’ of successive governments was responsible for the poor healthcare facilities in the State.

Addressing a doctors’ meet here, he promised when elected to power the party would strive to achieve ‘health for all by 2010’ and make best medicare available across the State, making it truly ‘Arogyandhra Pradesh’.

Health spend

Responding to a point made by former State president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) E. Ravinder Reddy, he said the party would focus on easing the health spend from the current 1.5 per cent of the budget. While the World Health Organisation suggested 4.5 per cent, States, like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, were trying to increasing it to at least 2.5 p.c. he said, promising AP would also do so when PR comes to power.

Fake drugs

Mr. Chiranjeevi expressed concern at the alarming spread of spurious drugs. He said stricter drug control policies were required, recalling his experience while touring Prakasam district recently. Doctors had found that antibiotics bought for his sore throat were found to be fake when he complained that they were not working.

P. Mitra, general secretary, said while the party was not per se against corporate hospitals their priority should be to improve the public health system and make available world-class healthcare delivery free to people. On female infanticide, he said the party would curb it with an iron hand and consider it as murder.

Sexologist Samaram presided. B. Chandrasekhar, former Kakinada municipal chairperson, summed up the proposals made by doctors. The proposals include preventing communicable diseases caused by contaminated water and environmental pollution.

PR to harness youth power

Chiru addresses techies under the banner ‘DoIT’

MEGA SUPPORT: PR president Chiranjeevi at the ‘DoIT’ meeting on Sunday.

HYDERABAD:

Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi on Sunday said youth and women were important partners in the party’s efforts to ride to power.

He was addressing an impressive gathering of techies under the banner of ‘DoIT’, an organisation fulfilling their corporate social responsibility and whose members he inspired since the formation of ‘Dynamites of IT’ in August 2008.

The PR chief explained how he was inspired by former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and how there was a marked reluctance in youth to join politics. There was a need to inspire youngsters to become future leaders. In this endeavour, he would ensure that youth were motivated and recognised so that they could contribute to the State and country’s progress.

Mr. Chiranjeevi played to the gallery, saying a major part of his life was in the cinema field. The rest was a phase where he would serve people, with youth directing him. There was thunderous applause when he said the party would harness youth power to take on opponents, who were supporting ‘rowdyism’ and stopping at nothing to achieve their ‘nefarious’ ends.

Presenting a brief on DoIT’s activities, volunteer A. Raja Suresh Kumar, who is among the core group of 10 people behind the organisation, said since August last year over 10,000 professionals had come together to back Praja Rajyam.

Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao’s fate hangs in balance

 Locals oppose Rao’s efforts to zero in on Unguturu segment

Little support for Rao from Praja Rajyam’s district leadership

ELURU:

 Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao, a vocal former Minister with nearly three decades of association with the Congress, TDP and now the Praja Rajyam, appears to be a ‘king without an empire’ now, thanks to the reservation of his native Chintalapudi Assembly segment for the Scheduled Castes.

The displaced leader, who had built his native constituency as an invincible citadel and virtually ruled it for a little over two decades, is waging a grim struggle for survival.

His chase for ‘shelter’ is on ever since he broke away from the TDP and joined the Praja Rajyam.

As he has zeroed in on Unguturu segment, Mr. Vidyadhara Rao is greeted with hostile situation from his one-time disciples and nondescripts staking claim for the ticket.

Mr. Vidyadhara Rao understandably draws little support from his party’s district leadership in his struggle.

Banners torn

His struggle went beyond confines of the party and spilled over to the streets when banners promoting his candidature were torn off at Agadalanka, a fishermen village in Kolleru recently.

Following a complaint obviously from Mr. Rao, the police allegedly detained Goli Subba Rao, a ticket aspirant from PR, suspecting his hand in the incident. This stoked local sentiment, leading to unifying all contenders from the constituency against Mr. Rao. Mr. Subba Rao, hailing from the backward classes, makes a pitch for the ticket to BCs who, he claims, constitute more than 90,000 in the constituency. All the ‘local’ ticket-seekers held a media conference a few days ago to sound a subtle warning to Mr. Vidyadhara Rao, saying they would strive to defeat any ‘non-local’ if the party decides to give the ticket.

Prabhu’s advent to enthuse PRP cadre

Party yet to decide on constituency

Yuva Rajyam district convener Tulasi Dharma Charan addressing a media conference in Guntur on Sunday.

GUNTUR:

Clouds of uncertainty hanging over the entry of Tulasi Group head Tulasi Ramachandra Prabhu into the Praja Rajyam Party ended after Mr. Prabhu’s nephew Dharma Charan was made the district convener of Yuva Rajyam, the youth wing of the party.

Mr. Dharma Charan, heads the marketing division of Tulasi Seeds, and has been actively working in the party ever since its launch.

Mr. Prabhu who returned from a foreign trip, met PRP president Chairanjeevi in Hyderabad recently and the latter urged him to play an active role in the party. Mr. Prabhu is expected to contest from either Guntur-West, Sattenapalli or Tenali assembly seats. If the party decides to field him from Guntur-West, Mr. Prabhu will find himself locking horns with his long-time associate and Transport Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana. But sources close to his family said that Mr. Prabhu was disinclined to contest from Guntur and would rather prefer Sattenapalli or Tenali seats.

The dramatic re-entry of Mr. Prabhu into the PRP fold would surely warm the hearts of the party cadre. He heads a business empire with a turn over of Rs.300 crore and has wide business interests including packaging, transport and seeds. But of late, Mr. Prabhu revealed his philanthropic side by establishing Sri Krishna Devaraya Trust and extending financial assistance to economically backward meritorious students.

Confusing delay

But political observers were flummoxed as to why he had delayed the decision till the announcement of election code and after the successful tour of Chiranjeevi. There was even hints of Prabhu being pulled back by a senior Cabinet minister and Mr. Prabhu himself feeling sidelined by a powerful group headed by Thota Chandrasekhar.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dharma Charan on Sunday announced his plans to boost the sagging morale of the members of Chiranjevi’s fan associations by assuring that 80 per cent of the youth outfit would be filled with them. He also said that the Yuva Rajyam activists would resume the door-to-door campaign. On March 15, scores of engineering and medical students would join the party at a meeting in Mahima Gardens.

The party would get a big morale boost with the visit of Pawan Kalyan in the last week of March, he added.

PRP hopeful

Rajahmundry:

PRP leader and brother of Chiranjeevi Nagendrababu said that their party was hopeful that it would get common symbol on March 16. He met some of the reporters on Sunday night after visiting Lalacheruvu spinning mill grounds, where Chiranjeevi’s pubic meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. He said the PRP first list would be announced on March 15 by Chiranjeevi and no aspirant should claim before the declaration that they got the ticket. Staff Reporter

Bandar PRP ticket likely for Vedavyas

VIJAYAWADA:

Former MLA Buragadda Vedavyas is likely to contest from the Bandar Assembly constituency on the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) ticket in the ensuing election.

His name is almost finalised, and the party may announce this in the first list of candidates to be announced in a few days from now.

Several local PRP leaders, who are aspirants for the ticket, are reportedly bent upon lobbying hard to prevent Mr. Vedavyas’s candidature.

Sources say that Mr. Vedavyas is in the core committee of the party leadership and it will not be possible for the existing leaders in Bandar to mar his chances.

Kamineni Srinivas Rao’s name is also almost confirmed for the PRP ticket from Kaikaluru Assembly segment. He has been active in the party affairs right from the beginning, and his association with Chiranjeevi is well-known in the party circles.

The PRP leadership is said to be satisfied with the potential candidature of Simhadri Chandrasekhar for contesting from Avanigadda constituency.

He is son of former minister Simhadri Satyanarayana. Dr. Chandrasekhar is a cardiac specialist practising in the State Capital.

Dalit votes

Meanwhile, dalit leader Katti Padma Rao’s name is doing the rounds for the Gannavaram Assembly constituency. Party circles are surprised at this sudden development, but the leadership is said to be setting its sights on the SC votes in the constituency for improving winning chances of its candidate.

If Mr. Padma Rao attracts dalit votes to a considerable extent, it will damage the prospects of the Congress nominee. Kapu votes, together with SC votes, may help the PRP nominee to get the winning edge in the elections.

Several aspirants belonging to Kapu and Kamma communities have already stopped pursuing their case in the face of changed scenario in Gannavaram PRP affairs.

The party leadership has assured to accommodate them in nominated posts and other positions if they strive hard to ensure victory for the party in the elections.  

Takes a dig at the party’s manifesto

To the point: PR chief Chiranjeevi addressing the media in Adilabad.

ADILABAD:

Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi on Saturday criticised the Telugu Desam Party for coming out with a politically inspired election manifesto. He said the TDP was indulging in ‘vote’ politics by promising many direct benefits.

At a press conference here on the second and last day of his ‘praja ankita yatra’ in Adilabad district Mr. Chiranjeevi urged people to see through the designs of TDP. “I thought the TDP chief talked of vision 2020. It turned out to be television 2009”, he punned.

Providing a rationale for his criticism of the TDP manifesto, the PR president said political parties should aspire to increase the capacity of the people and not incapacitate them by such measures. “No country in the world has done it so far. In fact, the manifesto proposals are contrary to the beliefs held by Mr. Chandrababu Naidu earlier. It is sheer hunger for power that has made him propose such ridiculous things,” he opined.

Answering questions, Mr. Chiranjeevi said he doubted the TDP’s stand on separate Telangana though the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is its alliance partner. “Why does the TDP manifesto not touch upon the Telangana subject”, he questioned.

Congress party is the PR’s main rival in the coming elections because of the corruption launched by that party, the PR president said in response to questions. He did not rule out contesting from Telangana in addition to Tirupati. Later addressing road shows at Gudihatnoor, Ichoda, Bazarhatnoor, Neredigonda and Nirmal, Mr. Chiranjeevi said the PR will constitute a State level Corporation on the lines of the Cotton Corporation of India.

Stop political ragging: Pawan Kalyan

HYDERABAD:

Irritated with ‘unbridled criticism’ by other political parties on a daily basis, Pawan Kalyan, president of ‘Yuva Rajyam’ has called for a halt to what he termed, ‘political ragging’ of PRP by opponents.

He was interacting with the media after officially welcoming a stock-broker and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Govind Rathi and his father B.N. Rathi and their supporters from Gosha Mahal here into the PRP on Saturday.

“Judging from the way we have been criticised, one would think there was no space for new political parties. Anyway, the elections are just around the corner and time will prove how much the people trust us”, he said.

Facing a barrage of questions on the party’s stand on Telangana, Mr. Kalyan reiterated,

“The Praja Rajyam president has clearly stated that he was for a separate State. It is a commitment from his heart. What else do you people want?”.

To a question as to the definition of ‘Social Telangana’ (a term coined by the PRP), he quipped,

“It means a Telangana for the backward classes”, before hastening to add that it stood for BC leadership in a separate State.

At a separate press conference later, when T. Devender Goud, who recently merged his Nava Telangana Party with the Praja Rajyam, was asked the same question in reference to the Yuva Rajyam president’s definition, the seasoned leader responded that what Mr. Pawan Kalyan said was one way of putting it.

As for what the term stood for, he said it referred to a separate new State where social justice would be implemented in letter.

Pawan calls halt to ‘political ragging’

Market entrant: Pawan Kalyan greeting Govind Rathi who joined Praja Rajyam on Saturday.

HYDERABAD:

Irked by ‘unbridled’ criticism from political parties, Yuva Rajyam president Pawan Kalyan called a halt to what he termed ‘political ragging’ of Praja Rajyam by opponents.

Interacting with the media after officially welcoming stock-broker and BJP leader Govind Rathi and his father B .N. Rathi and their supporters finto the PR on Saturday, he said,“judging from the way we are being criticised, one would think there was no space for new political parties. Anyway, the elections are just round the corner and time will testify people’s trust us”.

Facing a barrage of questions on the party’s stand on Telangana, Mr. Kalyan reiterated, “Praja Rajyam president has clearly stated that he was for a separate State. It is a commitment from his heart. What else do you people want?”.

To a question as to the definition of ‘Social Telangana’ (a term coined by the PR), he quipped, “It means a Telangana for the Backward Classes”, before hastening to add that it stood for BC leadership in a separate State.

At a separate press conference later, T. Devender Goud when asked the same question said it referred to a separate new State where social justice would be implemented in letter and spirit.

PR to allot four seats to women in Nellore

NELLORE:

Praja Rajyam district unit has recommended the party to allot four Assembly constituencies for women. Already, the list of aspirants has been sent to the party president, said the Praja Rajyam district convener and MLC Bommireddy Raghavender Reddy.

Relatives ‘mar’ Chiru’s show

No leader is venturing to take the state of affairs to the notice of Chiranjeevi

The feeling is that the situation has slipped from bad to worse

Second-rung leaders are unhappy to a large extent

 VIJAYAWADA:

The Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) in the city appears to be enacting the role of a hare in the familiar tale of “The Hare and the Tortoise”. Three months ago, hectic activity was witnessed in PRP circles, but it is visibly missing at a crucial time when the elections are just about a month away.

While the initial enthusiasm is slowly waning in the PRP, activity is steadily picking up in the ruling Congress, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and other parties. Active leaders in the PRP are panicky over this turn of events.

Some promising leaders in the PRP are attributing this sudden downslide to the “constant interference” of relatives of Allu Aravind and others in the party affairs here. One such leader says nobody is being allowed to take the initiative to take the party programmes to people, with city convener Boppana Bhava Kumar just watching the situation helplessly.

Another opinion is that Mr. Aravind and other top rung leaders are depending solely on their relatives here for any feedback and this has come as a discouragement for many enthusiastic leaders.

As the fear of relatives has gripped everybody, no leader is venturing to take the state of affairs to the notice of party president Chiranjeevi.

A strong feeling among the cadre is that the situation in the party has slipped from bad to worse since the exit of Kesineni Srinivas (Nani).

Sources in the party say that the relatives of Mr. Aravind are directly or indirectly involved in “browbeating and snubbing” other leaders, whenever they try to take up any activity on behalf of the party. Nobody in the top leadership is listening to the voices of all leaders to set right the situation. If this continues for a few more days, it is like losing the battle before it has even begun in this politically active district, the sources say.

The second-rung leaders are unhappy to a large extent over the manner in which the party affairs are being run in the city. At the same time, they are keeping silent so as not to incur the wrath of relatives.

Promises quality education and health particularly to the tribals in Adilabad district

Mass contact: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi addressing a road show at Kadem in Adilabad district on Friday.

KHANAPUR (ADILABAD DT.):

The milling crowds at Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi’s road shows in Adilabad district on Friday made it amply clear that they adored him as a film actor.

He was welcomed with whistles and cheers by youth at all the stops he made for his road shows. He embarked on his two-day ‘Praja Ankita Yatra’ from Khanapur mandal headquarter that falls within the Khanapur (ST) Assembly seat in the district and proceeded towards Adilabad passing through Kadem, Utnoor and Indervelli mandal head quarter villages.

The actor turned politician harped mainly on emotional speeches regarding the love and affection showered by his fans in the district. His references to politics touched upon the needs of people in Adilabad district mainly and criticism of the ruling and other opposition parties was rather sketchy.

In response to a question from a news person, Mr. Chiranjeevi criticised the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) proposed move to give colour TV sets to poor people in the State. “What will people do with TV sets when they are faced with hunger”, he questioned.

‘Basic needs ignored’

The PR chief ridiculed the Congress and TDP governments for failing to provide basic amenities in villages. He said people in many tribal hamlets were facing dire shortage of drinking water even after the two parties ruled the State for over 50 year.

“Entrust me with your future. I will ensure you receive all that you need”, he assured.

Referring to the needs of people of Adilabad district, Mr. Chiranjeevi said the Praja Rajyam will provide quality education and health to all the people.

The Praja Rajyam president criticised the government for failing to protect the lives of poor tribals hundreds of whom died every year due to epidemics.

Dalit Praja Party executive elected

KADAPA:

DPP president Sangati Manohar announced new executive. G.J. Simon has been appointed the party’s chief advisor, Fr. Badugu Samson, chief administrator of RCM Church, Kadapa, as chief coordinator, Fr. Badem Sundararaj, pastor of Rayalaseema Diocese and Devarapalli Solomon as spokesmen. M. Prakasam was elected DPP’s district convenor, Motakatla Manohar as co-convenor, C. Babu, Chandrababu, N. Prasanna Kumar, A. Sunil Kumar and P.H. Manoraj as member-convenors.  

HYDERABAD:

In a sign of times when no election manifesto appears complete without promise of freebies, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has promised a free colour TV, besides cash transfer to the poor while Praja Rajyam, free school education for all.

In offering colour TV to all the poor families not having one, the TDP has taken a leaf out of DMK in Tamil Nadu. Under the Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS), the party, if it comes to power, plans to transfer Rs. 2,000 every month each to the poorest of poor families, Rs. 1,500 to the poor and Rs. 1,000 to the middle classes.

It would also come up with a comprehensive healthcare scheme for the poor. 

PR to focus on graft, free land and education

Distant dreams: PR leaders P. Shivshankar (left) and P. Upendra at the release of the party’s election manifesto in Hyderabad on Thursday.

HYDERABAD:

An inquiry by a sitting judge into political corruption during the Congress and Telugu Desam regimes in the past 15 years and a more specific probe into alleged irregularities in the ‘Jalayagnam’ programme are among the Praja Rajyam’s promises if elected to power.

Releasing the party’s draft manifesto for the 2009 elections, convenors P. Shivshankar and P. Upendra said the final document would be released by March 31 after circulating the draft among sections of people, including the intelligentsia.

The beginning

The 50-page draft explains why the Praja Rajyam had come into existence. It states that people of the State wanted a change because there was a lack of political will, bureaucratic apathy, unbridled corruption and failure of enforcement agencies, all of which made prosperity a distant dream. Both the Congress and the TDP had, in 52 years delivered virtually nothing.

The Praja Rajyam recognised the naxalite movement as one that emanated from socio-economic problems. It would be the PR’s endeavour to bring underground Maoists into mainstream of society.

The party said that there would be no fake encounters and that a lenient view would be taken on naxal-related criminal cases.

Wet land

An important aspect of the manifesto is the promise of two-and-a-half acres of wet land or five acres of land to all eligible, landless poor families. The land would also be integrated into development schemes.

“We will take over endowment lands, wastelands and surplus lands,” Katti Padma Rao, a committee member, said. The Praja Rajyam promised a ‘weaver security fund’ to help the handloom industry. Also, a Rs. 500-crore ‘price fluctuation control fund’ and market intervention schemes to control markets and prices of essential commodities is promised. The pension of Rs. 200 a month for senior citizens would be increased to Rs. 500. On the education front, the PR promises free education to girls from ‘KG to PG’, as also to those from the SCs and STs, BCs and economically backward classes (EBC), compulsory, free education for all up to Class 10 and waiver of fee for all common entrance tests. The manifesto also referred to EBCs’ development. 

PR’s plea: file counter affidavit, EC told

 PR seeks direction for keeping aside rail engine symbol for its candidates

Andhra Pradesh High Court adjourns common symbol case to March 16

HYDERABAD:

A Division Bench of the A. P. High Court comprising Justice B. Prakash Rao and Justice Bhavani Prasad on Thursday directed the Election Commission to file counter affidavit to the contentions raised by the Praja Rajyam in a writ petition seeking allotment of a common symbol to it in the ensuing general elections.

The Bench was dealing with the writ petition filed by Allu Aravind, general secretary, on behalf of Praja Rajyam. Assailing the orders of the Election Commission rejecting its request for a common symbol, he specifically challenged the Constitutional validity of the symbols order which provides for allotment of a symbol to a registered party only after it contests one general election and gets minimum prescribed percentage of votes.

The petitioner found fault with the attitude of Election Commission saying that it was trying to restrict the entry of new political parties.

Counsel for the petitioner V. Venkata Ramana said that after contesting one election, to wait for a symbol for next general elections, will be a Herculean task in these days of fluid political situation. He said that though the TRS did not contest the general elections, it was granted a common symbol.

The Praja Rajyam sought a direction for keeping aside the symbol of rail engine for exclusive use of the candidates to be put up by their party. The Bench wanted the EC to respond to the Constitutional validity of the issue. The case has been adjourned to March 16. 

PRP demands white paper on projects

VIZIANAGARAM:

Prior to seeking mandate for another term, the Congress should release a white paper on the claim of all-round development, particularly irrigation projects, in the last five years, Praja Rajyam Party district convener Merupula Venkataramana has said.

While the TDP had completed only Andra project during its 17-year-rule and laid foundations for many more projects in the district, the Congress claimed completion of Peddagedda and Jhanjhavathi, he said at a press conference on Thursday.

The work on Thotapalli was being done in patches, as though to benefit the executing agencies, he said, and added that not even 25,000 acres in the district were given water through the projects.

Moreover, the laying of the foundation stone for Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi by Chief Minister in Visakhapatnam recently was a poll gimmick.

‘Neglected districts’

He said it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister chose to draw water from Polavaram to Kadapa, 500 km away from the project site in Phase-I, neglecting the three North Andhra districts that were just 150 km away from the project.

M. Geetha, Mahila Rajyam convener, said that the party would be organising Samajika Nyaya Sabha at Rajahmundry on March 10.

Former TD Minister joins Praja Rajyam

HYDERABAD:

Former Minister in the TDP government, Metla Satyanarayana (East Godavari district) and former Medak TDP district president, Batthi Jagapathi, on Thursday joined the Praja Rajyam alongwith their followers, in the presence of party president Chiranjeevi.

While Mr. Satyanarayana met Mr. Chiranjeevi at the party office in Jubilee Hills, Mr. Jagapathi and hordes of his followers chose to make their entry into the party at a meeting held in Raavi Narayana Reddy auditorium in Banjara Hills.

Mr. Chiranjeevi apart, PR general secretary Allu Aravind and Yuva Rajyam president Pawan Kalyan also attended the meeting. Mr. Aravind released a poster on social justice pertaining to ‘Samajika Nyaya Sankharavam’, a meeting of those from the BCs to be held in Rajahmundry on March 10.

“PR to go ahead with people’s wish”

HYDERABAD:

The Praja Rajyam party will go ahead with its slogan of ‘Samajika Telangana’ (social Telangana) and in tune with its oft-repeated line that it would go with the people’s wish only, said it would moot proposals and hasten legislative processes for a separate state.

At the release of the PR’s draft manifesto, senior leader and former Union Minister P. Shivshankar said from day one, party president Chiranjeevi was only saying that he would go by the people’s wish on the issue of a separate Telangana. “Whatever is voiced by the people is what we promise to do,” he repeated. However, in response to a question from a pressperson, the seasoned leader said that with the popularity of the TRS ‘anyway on the wane’, people were not expecting the ‘grand alliance’ to offer anything on that count. This led to questions from several reporters about how the PR leader could think that only the TRS could offer a separate Telangana. Finding that the questions were making the PR leaders uncomfortable, former Union Minister P. Upendra hastened to intervene and signalled the end of the press conference.

Praja Rajyam cadre seeks God’s help

VIJAYAWADA:

Seeking the blessings of the Almighty for getting a common electoral symbol for the Praja Rajyam Party , its activists on Thursday offered special prayers at Hajrat Galeeb Shaheed Darga at Bhavanipuram. The prayers were held under the aegis of Sheik Baji, urban joint secretary of the PRP. Party urban convener Boppana Bhava Kumar and other leaders were present.

Praja Rajyam leaders’ gesture

Praja Rajyam leader Avanthi Srinivas (left) handing over a cheque in the presence of party president Chiranjeevi to Genji Leela in Hyderabad.

VISAKHAPATNAM:

Led by Avanthi Group Institutes’ chairman and Praja Rajyam party leader M. Srinivasa Rao, a number of party leaders from Anakapalle have come to the aid of a patient requiring liver transplant. The aid is for the son of Genji Leela of Anakapalle.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao donated Rs.3 lakhs for the transplant. Nimmadala Sanyasi Naidu and Oil Tanker Owners’ Union President Tammina Naidu contributed Rs.50,000 each and Panchakarla Rameshbabu Rs.20,000. Praja Rajyam Party leader K. Nagababu spoke to the Kamineni Hospital authorities and got the fee for the transplant reduced from Rs.27 lakhs (quoted by another hospital) to Rs.17 lakhs.

As his contribution Mr. Nagababu added Rs.10,000 to the Rs.15,000 he had received towards a Nandi award.

Besides, his friends Jagadam Sudhakar and Sagar Ram contributed Rs.15,000 and Rs.25,000 respectively.

Advocate Katyayani, after a meeting with the Praja Rajyam leaders of Anakapalle, took the issue to the notice of Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi. The cheques were given away by Mr. Chiranjeevi at Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Donors who intend to help the patient may contact here on 9247816263. 

TDP/PR manifestos full of freebies

TDP offers free colour TV, Praja Rajyam free school education for all

TV FOR ALL: TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu releasing the party manifesto in Hyderabad on Thursday.

HYDERABAD:

In a sign of times when no election manifesto appears complete without promise of freebies, Telugu Desam Party has promised a free colour TV, besides cash transfer to the poor while Praja Rajyam, free school education for all.

In offering colour TV to all the poor families not having one, the TDP has taken a leaf out of DMK in Tamil Nadu. Under the Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS), the party, if it comes to power, plans to transfer Rs. 2,000 every month each to the poorest of poor families, Rs. 1,500 to the poor and Rs. 1,000 to the middle classes. It would also come up with a comprehensive healthcare scheme for the poor.

Releasing the draft manifesto at a press conference, TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu rejected the argument that both schemes were “populist” saying, colour TV has now become a necessity providing ‘infotainment’ while the CTS is a social security and economic empowerment measure.

The CTS would boost school enrolment, reduce child mortality and child labour, improve health of mother and child and benefit aged and physically-challenged persons, he said. It would address socio-economic inequalities triggered by globalisation process and improper implementation of economic reforms.

Besides free and compulsory education up to Class 10 for all, Praja Rajyam has promised 10-hour uninterrupted free power supply to farm sector, free education from ‘KG to PG’ to girls and all those belonging to the SCs, STs, BCs and economically-backward classes (EBC) and waiver of fees for common entrance tests.

The draft manifesto released by PR senior leaders, P. Upendra and P. Shivshankar, talks of 50 per cent concession on power consumption by rural consumers and extension of free power to cottage industries. Another proposal is to shift from the present five-tier system of Panchayat Raj to a three-tier system revolving around the sarpanch, mandal president and Zilla Parishad chairman.

The PR promises to pay attention to economically backward classes in the form of an exclusive finance corporation, to include sections like Brahmins and Vysyas. Other proposals were all fair price shops to be run by women members of self-help groups and free insurance for health and life for all SHG members.

HYDERABAD:

Prominent leaders who have switched their loyalties from other parties to the Praja Rajyam will not be a disappointed lot.

The PR leadership has decided to accommodate all such leaders — MLAs and MPs who have quit their posts as also veteran leaders who occupied key posts in other parties earlier — while giving tickets for the forthcoming elections to the State Assembly and Lok Sabha. It has prepared a list of about 100 such leaders and a majority of them are likely to find their names in the candidates’ list.

Even as the other opposition parties are working overtime to resolve the differences over seat sharing, the PR leadership is gearing up to release the first list of its candidates by March 10.

Unlike the other parties for which proportionate representation in line with their strength has become a contentious issue, the task for the PR leadership is much simpler as the “party already has a list of serious contenders.”

“People like former MLAs — B. Vedavyas, Vangaveeti Radhakrishna and Tammineni Sitaram — and former MP Bhuma Nagi Reddy and people in public life like P. Shiv Shankar who quit their respective parties to join the PR are automatic choice,” a source said.

The party will then commence the selection process for the remaining seats following the concept of social justice and weaker sections. This, the party leaders assert, should not be a problem as the party has adequate representation of identified public personalities from these sections.

The PR leadership, however, needs to perform a balancing act when it comes to selecting candidates for the remaining seats as there is a stiff competition between aspirants with a political background and representatives of the fans associations.

Pawan Kalyan rapped on fluoride issue

KADAPA:

CITU district president A. Raghunath Reddy on Wednesday alleged that Yuva Rajyam president Pawan Kalyan’s lack of comprehension was evident by his remarks at Nalgonda on Tuesday that there was be no fluoride problem in the Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s native district.

Nine villages in five mandals of Kadapa district have fluoride problem, but Yuva Rajyam president’s remarks was due to lack of awareness, Mr. Reddy alleged. Fluoride water problem was persistent in Eguva Nelatur and Gopireddipalle villages in Brahmamgari Matham, N. Palagiri and Sangalapalli villages in Veerapunayunipalle mandal, Akkampet and Kuppavaripalle village in Kamalapuram mandal, Gopaveedupalli and Gajulapet villages in Ramapuram mandal and Dugganapalli in Veeraballe mandal in Kadapa district, he said.

Some villages in Badvel and Pulivendula areas too had fluorosis. Mr. Pawan Kalyan should realise that the Chief Minister took no steps to resolve the fluoride problem in the nine villages of Kadapa district, Mr. Reddy said. 

NTP, PR aspirants’ hopes dashed

WARANGAL:

The merger of Nava Telangana Party (NTP) into the Praja Rajyam has not brought cheers to workers of either party, but has only dashed the hopes of prospective candidates in the district.

The competition for Assembly tickets within the Praja Rajyam was intense. The merger compounded the woes the aspirants.

Speaking to The Hindu, Puli Sarangapani, a retired academic who held key-position in the NTP, agreed that there was intense competition for tickets. However, both the parties welcomed the merger. Mr. Sarangapani said the problem of dissidence would be less in Praja Rajyam compared to the established political parties. “A majority of aspirants are new to politics. Even if they sulk, they cannot harm the chances of the official candidates,” he contended.