'Election of Congress in 2004 avoided disaster': YSR

Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, Dec 1 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today claimed it would have been disastrous had the Congress had not been voted to power in 2004.

Addressing people in road shows in Bobbili Lok Sabha seat in this district, he said the condition of the State would have worsened and the agriculture sector would have suffered the most.

He said the Congress Government initiated steps on a warfooting as soon as it came to power, to mitigate the suffering of farmers 'who were badly neglected during the erstwhile TDP regime'.

The Chief Minister said his government has taken up 'Jala Yagnam,' a major irrigation initiative, under which 75 lakh acre land was being brought under cultivation. Urgent steps were taken to stop farmer suicide in the state.

Dr Reddy assured the voters of Bobbili that his government would provide enough funds for the development of the North Coastal region of the State. He appealed to them to vote for the Congress candidate Botsa Jhansi, considering the developmental activity generated by the Congress. He promised that more projects to generate employment in this backward district would be taken up.

The Chief Minister said though the state lost the Volkeswagen India project, which was shifted to Pune in Maharashtra, his Government would get other projects to generate employment.

He said his Government was taking steps to improve living standards in rural areas as against the 'urban orientation' of the previous TDP government.

The by-election to Bobbili was caused by the death of TDP sitting MP K Paidithalli Naidu. While the TDP has fielded his son Appala Naidu, The Congress has fielded Jhansi, ZP Chairperson and wife of Marketing Minister Botsa Satyanarayana.

There would be by-poll for Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency also in the Telangana region on December 4. Chandrasekhara Rao, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief and former Union Labour Minister resigned from his seat protesting 'delay in the announcement of the formation of Telangana state' by the UPA Government.

UNI JRK AA MQA RK2220