Chiranjeevi begins mass-contact programme to placate angry Seemandhraites

Srikakulam: Seeking to revive the fortunes of Congress in Seemandhra, Union Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi and other party leaders in the region today began a mass-contact programme from here.

Chiranjeevi, who has been appointed head of the party's campaign committee, and other Seemandhra Congress leaders would interact with party rank and file and aim to boost their morale during the tour.

Congress is believed to be at the receiving end of public anger in Seemandhra over the "unilateral" bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and a number of senior leaders, including former ministers and MLAs have since quit the party.

Congress is said to be in such a bad shape that it is not even able to find candidates for the local body polls to be held before general and Legislative Assembly elections.

"Congress candidates may have to wear helmets when they go for campaigning," former minister S Vijayarama Raju, who recently switched over to TDP, had said.

Noting that the decision to bifurcation was taken under compelling conditions, Chiranjeevi highlighted the benefits announced for Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema in the division of AP.

The Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project, pending since British, has been given national status, he said.

Industrial development would be faster in Seemandhra as tax incentives that have been announced, Chiranjeevi said.