Anantapur: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s Rachchabanda programme is successfully going on even in YSR Congress and Telugu Desam strongholds in the region. Though, Samaikyandhra activists had tried to block it initially at a few places, the meetings were successfully held as people came voluntarily to submit representations and to get the benefits of government schemes.
As part of the Rachchabanda programme, the government had sanctioned a huge number of ration cards, old age pensions, pucca houses, Bangaru Talli and other schemes and have been distributing assets during gram sabha meetings directly to beneficiaries.
Sources said, the Chief Minister and other ministers directed officials of sensitive districts to distribute assets to the people even if local MLAs of opposition parties are absent.
Sensing the situation, the YSR Congress, though strongly opposing Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, had reportedly permitted their MLAs to take part in Rachabanda in their segments. Most YSR Congress MLAs from Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur districts are participating in the programmes and had initiated functions to distribute assets.
Allagadda MLA Shoba Nagi Reddy and Rayadurg MLA K. Ramachandra Reddy were among those who participated in the Rachchabanda.
It may be recalled that YSR Congress and Congress cadres had fought in the Peddakadubur village in Adoni division where the YSRCP had demanded to put Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s photo on the dais.
Police lathicharged the activists at the meeting. People had to return without getting assets at the Rachchabanda.
Similarly, the Telugu Desam, CPI and CPM were also actively trying to develop a foothold among the villages through the Rachchabanda programme.
Anantapur TDP district president B.K. Parthasarathi participated in Somandepalli in Penukonda constituency. MLC Gundumala Thippeswamy observed that opposition parties had no voice to criticise the Congress-led government and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy. "Instead, they are actively taking part in the Rachchabanda programme", he said.
