YSRCP will not last long: Naidu

Rajahmundry: The YSR Congress Party will either merge with Congress or perish on its own. Either way, it will not last long, predicted TDP president N Chandra Babu Naidu. Speaking to cadres from Amalapuram assembly constituency during his 172th day of 'Vastunna Mee Kosam' padayatra in Rajahmundry on Friday, Naidu expressed dismay that YSRCP President Jaganmohan Reddy was influencing people from the prison. Taking note of the Sadak Bandh on Thursday, he observed that TRS was playing with the sentiments of the people like the YSRCP. Naidu maintained that he had started Padayatra to reach out the people to enquire about their problems. Admitting waiving farmers' loans was a very difficult tass, he made it clear that his party would fulfil the promise so as to make agriculture profitable in the State. He reiterated his promise of providing reservations for the economically backward people from upper castes. He directed his party workers to convince the Mala community that the TDP was not against it though it was backing SC categorization. Party workers should explain to the people how YS Rajasekhara Reddy betrayed SC people by diluting SC Finance Corporation and diverting SC component funds to other purposes. Recalling how leaders like GMC Balayogi used to work in tandem with him in the past, Naidu rued that he had to strive drive his message across to the present-day leaders. He made it clear that he would take steps to strengthen the second rung leadership and stressed the need to fill up the gap between party workers and leadership. Reminding that the TDP had gone through crisis several times in the past as in 1984, 1991, 1996 and during the advent of PRP, he said that the TDP had strength to overcome any crisis.