Vijayawada: Telugu Desam AP president K. Atchannaidu sounded confident about their party winning 160 out of a total 175 Assembly segments in the ensuing polls in Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing party delegates at Telugu Desam Party’s annual conclave Mahanadu on the first day at Rajamahendravaram on Saturday, he pointed out that 42 years have elapsed since the inception of TDP in 1982. The Mahanadu being celebrated in 2023 is special, as it coincides with the birth centenary celebrations of TD founder president N.T. Rama Rao.
Atchannaidu opined that from 1982 to 2019, there had been no trouble for people in AP, whichever the government in power – from NTR to N. Chandrababu Naidu. But trouble started when people voted YSR Congress to power in 2019 polls by mistake, even though its president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had been accused in 11 cases, spent 16 months in jail and had been involved in one lakh crore scam. He described TDP’s rule from 2014 to 2019 in AP as a golden period.
Referring to the post-bifurcation situation in AP, wherein the state inherited ₹16,000 crore revenue deficit with no money in hand, Atchannaidu maintained that it was Naidu who as chief minister worked hard to usher in welfare of people and development in the state. At the time, Jagan Mohan Reddy gave assurances to people on various issues, enacted the drama of “Kodi Kathi” and even got involved in the murky death of his uncle Vivekananda Reddy to gain sympathy and became the Chief Minister in the 2019 polls.
The TD AP president said as YSR Congress won 151 assembly seats, they thought the party will do more for the people in the state. Instead, it started troubling people. He said though he has been in politics for 40 years and got elected as MLA five times, he is facing trouble from YSR Congress government. He appreciated TD activists who are losing their assets and even lives, but are still working for the party.
Atchannaidu described Jagan Mohan Reddy as the richest CM in the country with assets worth ₹510 crore and yet claiming to be poor. He alleged that the YSRC chief is trying to fan regional conflict among people, especially in north Andhra region, in the name of three capitals.
