Naidu promises to reduce power charges in AP

KAKINADA: Telugu Desam chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu has promised the people he would reduce the power charges if his party is elected to power in the 2024 elections.

“Power charges were never increased during the TD term. But, the charges were revised eight times in the past four years of the YSRC rule,” Naidu said while participating in a seminar at Amalapuram.

Later, addressing the people during a road show under the TD’s Bhavisyathuku Guarantee scheme on Friday night, Naidu said the power charges will be brought down immediately after his party returns to power.

He said, “Jagan Mohan Reddy destroyed the lives of the people. Women are unable to lead a normal life as the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing.”

He alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy took a “U’’ turn in his liquor prohibition promise. “Why are online payments not allowed in liquor sales? The time has come for the society to cry a halt to the atrocious rule of Jagan Mohan Reddy.”

Addressing “intellectuals” and women, Naidu said the TD would formulate a programme for the progress of the state.

He levelled charges of huge corruption against Amalapuram MLA and transport minister Pinepe Viswaroop and his men. Though he did not mention the name of Viswaroop, his reference was to the “Amalapuram MLA.”

 At the public meeting, Naidu alleged that the government bought 100 acres of land for housing the poor and 50 acres for a medical college. “The government fixed an amount of '78 lakh per acre, but the farmers were paid only '50 lakh and the remaining amount was swallowed by the MLA and his followers,” the TD chief alleged.

He also pointed out that a parking place in Amalapuram has been changed into a shopping complex and the ruling clique took commissions from the beneficiaries. “If farmers want to do aquaculture or the people want to construct apartments, they should pay bribe to the MLA and his followers.”

Naidu also found fault with the Chief Minister for not allowing minister Viswaroop to sit on the chair.  “I made a Dalit leader, the late GMC Balayogi as the Lok Sabha Speaker. But, Viswaroop had to sit on his knees, on the dais, when Jagan Mohan Reddy addressed an event. What a shame!”

Speaking about the TD’s agenda, Naidu said he had prepared a draft of Vision 2047, aimed at making all the poor ‘rich’ in the country in due course of time. “This would happen for the Telugus as well. Balayogi, who came from a Dalit family became Lok Sabha Speaker. I was a common farmer, now standing before the people. The YSRC government is running in reverse mode. The people’s plight is worsening day by day. There are no jobs for the youth and the prices are going up and up.”