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With the end of elections in Telangana, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine has shifted its focus to Seemandhra (coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions), where polling will be held on May 7.
BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addressed as many as five election rallies on Thursday, starting from Madanapalli in the Chittoor district of Rayalaseema and ending at Visakhapatnam in coastal Andhra.
Modi was accompanied by TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu and rising Telugu actor Pavan Kalyan, who extended his unconditional support to the BJP leader.
Modi said the elections held so far had made two things clear — the “mother-son” government has gone and the foundation has been laid for the formation of a new government.
Modi asked the people to choose between “scam Andhra and swarn Andhra (golden Andhra)”.
To cash in on the public anger against the Congress over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Modi said, “Doing injustice to the people of Andhra has become a habit of the Congress.”
He recalled how late Rajiv Gandhi had “insulted” former Chief Minister of state Anjaiah, and how the Congress leadership had refused to build a memorial for former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao in Delhi.
The Gujarat chief minister promised to promote local industries to generate jobs and growth. For instance, in Guntur, which is known for production of cotton, chillies and turmeric, Modi said necessary facilities would be provided for export of garments and the spices.
Similarly, at Bhimavaram, which is famous for aquaculture, he said fishermen would be trained in modern techniques and production of ornamental fish, which has good export potential. He also promised his government's priority would be early completion of the Polavaram irrigation project.
“Our dream is to provide water and power (for irrigation) to the farmers and employment to the youth,” he said, adding all the top institutions like the IIT and the IIM would be established in Seemandhra.
Stating that his goal and also that of Naidu was the same, Modi said both of them were committed to the development of the state and the country. Hence, he urged the people to vote for the TDP and the BJP in large numbers so that they could form governments in the state and at the Centre.
Pointing out that the Congress government at the Centre had converted the country into “scam India”, he said his government would now develop it into “skill-India” by imparting necessary skills to youth.
His government would also ensure that the trial in pending criminal cases against MPs and MLAs would be expedited and those found guilty would be sent to jail.
