TDP eyeing possible midterm poll to LS

Hyderabad, Oct 8 (UNI) Gearing up the party for possible mid-term polls to the Lok Sabha, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief N Chandrababu Naidu came out with an alternative economic policy to reach the poor and realise the dream of a ''poverty- free society''.

The salient features of the alternative economic policy, outlined by TD Legislature Party Deputy Leader T Devender Goud to party functionaries, included nine hours free power to peasants, minimum support price of Rs 1000 per quintal of paddy, writing off cooperative loans of farmers, Rs two-per kg rice scheme for the poor, nutrious food as per World Health Organisation guideline for school children upto 10th standard, distribution of ''Janata cloth'' to the poor at 50 per cent subsidy, Rs 1000 crore seed money for upgradation of skills and modernisation of tools for Backward classes people pursuing traditional occupation.

Wooing the Left parties with the ''pro-poor'' policy, Mr Naidu, who sought to defend the Communists, who had been ''indirectly dubbed as enemies of the nation's development'', contended that ''the Congress party alone would be held responsible if a mid term poll is forced on the nation.'' ''The Manmohan Singh Government is hastily proceeding with the Indo-US nuclear deal without clearing the objections raised by the opposition parties on clauses in the Hyde act, affecting India's sovereignty'', he claimed.

''The TDP is fully prepared to face any mid term poll to the Lok Sabha'', he asserted while addressing the state executive committee meeting.

In an effort to lure Government employees, Mr Naidu also promised to constitute a new Pay Revision Commission to revise their salaries.

UNI