Politicos need to stress on development: P Madhu

Penumalli Madhu, a former MP and the first president of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Andhra Pradesh unit in an exclusive interview to Nizamuddin said that it was time for all politicians to stop criticising each other and instead focus on the development of the residual state.

CPM has always been opposed to division of the state and is the only party that stood for integration. Do you think that this stand of yours will now help the party grow in Seemandhra region?

We stood for United AP, as the idea was to keep the working masses united. But now the issue is settled. It’s time to move forward and see that people do not suffer on account of price rise. Overall development, unemployment, health, education and other such issues should be given high priority by any government that comes to power.

What will be your poll plank? What are the issues with which you want to go to people? What are the likely highlights of your manifesto?

Apart from talking about the need to develop the state, the CPM will lay emphasis on issues like the problems being faced by the artisans, unemployed youth, problems of minorities etc. Between 2005 and 2010 unemployment had grown by 1.5 per cent. Due to atrocious policies of the Central government the common man is forced to pay VAT even on products like bread.

With which parties CPM is likely to have alliance in the elections or will it go alone? What about seat-sharing between the Left parties?

These elections have thrown up peculiar situation. We will be able to give a clear picture only after March 30.

What is your take on the political scenario on Seemandhra? Who do you think are the major players and what is the ground situation and who do you think stand better chance?

Currently several from Congress are joining TDP and earlier some joined YSRCP from Congress. The politics have been reduced to business. People are losing trust in politicians. We want to protect real democracy in the region first.

The residual state needs to develop with vengeance what according to you should be the priorities?

We shall be focusing on three important aspects namely social justice, development and all-round development. In the past the governments had committed the mistake of centralised development which was in and around Hyderabad. This time it should be staggered one.

How many Lok Sabha and Assembly seats will your party contest?

If there is no alliance we shall be fighting 46 Assembly and 6 Parliamentary seats in residual AP.

What according to you will be the impact of Kiran and Pawan’s party?

We can answer that only after March 30, as Municipal elections would conclude.