Sounding the election bugle, Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday made it clear that he views the youth as a solid vote bank and will leave no stone unturned to attract them to his party. He promised an unemployment dole of Rs 1,000 to the youth and a hike in the scholarship stipend to students if the party returns to power.

Mr Naidu's intentions to attract the youth were clear right from the moment he left the party headquarters, the NTR Trust Bhavan, on a Bullet, a motorcycle that is seen as a symbol of power by the young and old alike. Accompanied by scores of party leaders and workers carrying yellow flags, the TD chief reached a private function hall in Kompally where he asked party cadre to be prepared for snap polls in the state.

He launched the “Kapadukundam” campaign at the party's “Yuvatarangam Youth Conclave”, with the stated aim of protecting the people, natural resources and the wealth of the state. Promising 33 per cent quota for the youth in the TD, Mr Naidu dismissed allegations that his son's education was funded by a corporate house, saying he was not in such dire straits that he was unable to pay the fees for his only son.

“The educated youth can wipe out corruption and change the face of the state and the world,” he said. Stating that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti is a party of “Vasool Rajas”, Mr Naidu said if his party retaliates, the TRS would be wiped out. Mr Naidu added that the spate of scams, including the latest liquor syndicates, sand mafia, and others, have destroyed the state. “If Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy fails to curb the liquor syndicates, he will go the way of former Union minister A. Raja,” Mr Naidu warned.