BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi launched his election campaign in Seemandhra on an aggressive note targeting both the Congress and the YSR Congress Party and warning people against giving their future in the hands of the “corrupt and scamsters”.
Addressing a series of election rallies in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra region, which will become residuary State of Andhra Pradesh on June 2, Modi said that the people will have to make a choice between “Swarnandhra” (Golden Andhra) and “Scam Andhra” the State of scams and “Scam India” or “Scheme India”.Modi, who had addressed his first rally in the temple town of Tirupati on Wednesday evening, started the day with an impressive show in Madanapalle town of Chittoor district. Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu and film star and Jana Sena Party leader Pawan Kalyan also addressed the NDA rally.
As Seemandhra was witnessing a direct fight between the YSR Congress Party and the TDP-BJP alliance, Modi’s punch was mostly aimed at the former.In scathing attack on YSR Congress Party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Modi asked the people, “You have to decide whether you want to give this State in the hands of the people who looted the State for years and who were sent to jail by their own party.” He was referring to the fact that Jagan had to spent 16 months in jail in connection with the disproportionate assets case.
Despite the intense summer heat, the rallies attracted impressive crowds.Taking a dig at the Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Modi said, “The mother-son Government in Delhi never lagged in insulting the people of Andhra. They not only made Telangana and Seemandhra, but also chose June 2 as the formation day of the new States because it happens to be the National Day of Italy.”
At Nellore rally, Modi charged the ‘mother-son Government’ for looting and destroying India through corruption. “Today India is known as Scam India. We have to change its image. A country which has 70 crore young people below 35 years of age, needs to be known as ‘Scheme India’ with lots of schemes for development, not Scam India,” he said.In the polling so far, it was clear that the mother-son Government was wiped out. “Nobody can save them,” he said. “In many States, the UPA and the Congress will not open their account and in other States it will not cross the single digit,” Modi said.
M Venkaiah Naidu, who hails from Nellore came in for special praise by Modi. “If the credit for fighting and securing special status for Seemandhra can go to any single person, it is Venkaiah Naidu,” he said, adding that as Prime Minister he will not implement all these promises but also enhance the special package.
Without laying much stress on the bifurcation of the State, Modi tried to offer hope to the people for their future by promising to develop Seemandhra in to a model and prosperous State. “The agenda of Chandrababu and Modi is development. Together we will build a golden Andhra,” he said seeking support to the TDP-BJP alliance in the May 7 elections. “Give a strong Government at Delhi and elect TDP-BJP Government in Seemandhra with Chandrababu as the Chief Minister.”
He also specifically appealed for the support to NTR’s daughter Purandeswari, the BJP candidate from Rajampet lok Sabha constituency in Rayalaseema. He made repeated references to the work done by NT Rama Rao for the development of the region. Purandeswari was also present on the stage.At Madanpally, known for its tomato cultivation, Modi promised to develop food-processing industry and storage facilities and also bring prosperity through linking of rivers. Recalling Vajpayee Government’s vision for river linking and the rural roads projects, Modi promised to introduce the Prime Minister Irrigations Project and complete the Polavaram and other pending projects.
At Nellore, he promised the farmers an attractive formula of the Minimum Support Price (MSP). “We will give input cost plus 50% profit as the MSP to the farmers,” he said.Chandrababu Naidu targeted Jaganmohan Reddy, “Both Jagan and KCR (TRS president) were part of the Congress conspiracy. Jagan will support the Congress after the elections,” he said.“Victory of the TDP-BJP alliance in this election is a historic necessity,” he said.Nellore and Tirupati will be developed as a big city and IT hub at par with Hyderabad, Naidu said.
Exuding confidence that the NDA will secure 300 seats in the lok Sabha, Naidu said the alliance will provide a strong Government to the country.Pavan Kalyan held the Congress high command and Jaganmohan Reddy responsible for the division of Andhra Pradesh. “What Jagan will do by becoming the Chief Minster when he could not stop the division of the State,” he said.