Left gearing up to attack TDP on poll promises

HYDERABAD: At a time when the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP Government in Andhra Pradesh is finding it difficult to keep its poll promises, especially the crop loan waiver, the government's failure is helping the Left parties unite and strengthen their base in the new state.

Ten Left parties, including the CPI and CPM, are meeting at Vijayawada on September 24 to discuss strategies to take up agitation programmes against the 'anti-people' policies of the TDP Government.

The Left parties, whose support base has gradually declined over the years, are planning to reach out to tenant farmers, SC and STs, women groups and labourers to take up their issues.

They are of the firm belief that the 'failure' of the TDP Government in keeping the poll promises would help them win the people's confidence and strengthen their presence at the grassroots level.

The CPI, which has won the mayoral post thrice in Vijayawada in the past, plans to revive the party in the new capital.

The decision of the TDP Government to give permission for bauxite mining in some areas of Visakhapatnam district has also come handy for the Left parties to launch an agitation.

The CPI is organising a massive rally of tribal people at Chintapalli in Visakhapatnam district on September 23. The CPI wants to use the rally to expand its base in areas where tribals are unhappy with the decision to allow bauxite mining.

'The honeymoon period is over. There is nothing to boast about 100 days' rule of the Chandrababu Naidu-led Government. Other than making hollow promises, the Chief Minister has done nothing. The government could not keep even one poll promise,' said CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna.

'We are disappointed with the government's attitude. They are trying to delay the implementation of loan waiver scheme. We have waited enough. Now it is time to force the government to implement all its poll promises,' he asserted.

With leaders deserting the YSR Congress and Congress becoming weak, the Left parties are preparing strategies to strengthen their base.

'The weakening of YSRC and Congress has created a space, which the Left parties will try to fill,' Ramakrishna said.

'The presence of Left parties will be needed in a big way to protect the interests of marginalised sections, including contract and outsourcing workers in government departments.

'We will fight for restoration of welfare schemes for the farming and working classes, social justice for women, Dalits and minorities and development aimed at improving the living standards of common man,' he said.

The Left parties, while immediately concentrating on launching mass movements on specific issues, also plan to forge links with non-Congress, non-BJP and non-TDP secular parties, he said.