Congress rode the anti-Desam tide

The results of the elections in Andhra Pradesh is as much a vote against Chandrababu Naidu's rule as it is a vote for the Congress party.

The roles are clearly reversed this time and is reminiscent of the kind of support that the Telugu Desam party (TDP) received from the people when it was launched in 1982.

Like in the 1983 elections the people of the state seem to have gone all out against Naidu's rule irrespective of their caste affiliations, social groupings and regional identities.

For a man like Naidu who takes pride in his managerial abilities and who has been seen as the chief executive officer of the state, there is no bigger humiliation than the outcome of the Assembly elections that were out on Tuesday.

The first indication about the people's apathy towards the TDP government came, though in a very unfortunate way, when the People's War Group attempted an assassination bid on the life of Naidu.

The response of the people to this incident was so cold that the TDP had to organise 'trips' to Naidu's residence to cover up the lack of sympathy among the people.

The natural respect that a leader of the stature of Naidu expects to command among the party ranks has also dried up with only the twin factors of power and fear making them behave and fall in line.

His centralised-functioning method had taken a big toll in the government too, with his senior colleagues becoming more and more indifferent to the issues that had to be addressed in a collective manner.

Many of these leaders had expressed their anguish over the 'dictatorial' methods and have often said in private that Naidu should loose power at least once for the sake of his own good.

This apart, the Congress' promise to offer free power to the farmers, the long state-wide padayatra of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and the ability of the Congress to revive its pro-poor image that Indira Gandhi so carefully nourished played a part in derailing Naidu's gravy train in the state.

Also, Naidu's belief that the women in the state would vote in his favour was misplaced. According to post result surveys women deserted the TDP and chose to vote Congress.

 

Can Congress walk its talk?

Agriculture 
Free power to agriculture sector
Constitution of Agriculture Technology Mission 
One-time settlement for co-operative agri loans
Cut interest on crop loans to 6% 
90% subsidy on drip and sprinkler irrigation scheme
Reduction in marketing sales tax from 4% to 2% to farmers
Constitution of high-level Horticulture Board 

Irrigation
Bring in 1 lakh hectares under assured i irrigation every year 
Micro irrigation projects to cover 5 lakh hectares  within 5 yrs
Complete Telugu Ganga Project 
A separate Irrigation and Power Finance Corporation 

Industry
Single window clearance for new projects
High powered task force to assist new entrepreneurs
Set up Industrial Rehabilitation Board 
Rehabilitation of SSIs and promotion of new units

Information Technology
Top priority for further development of IT and ITES
Set up training centres for BPO jobs

Energy
Improving transmission & distribution network
State's natural gas to be utilised for setting up  new power generating stations
Free power, of 15 units per month, will be supplied to people below poverty line using a single bulb. Subsidised power up to 50 units per month will be supplied to lower middle class families

Infrastructure
Top priority for roads, ports, telecom & social infrastructure 
Protect APSRTC
Implementation of new ports like Krishnapatnam & Nizampatnam 
Satellite ports for Vishakapatnam also will be taken up with Government of India