AMARAVATI: In a welcome move, the ruling YSRC has directed its leaders and cadre to not distribute cash or gifts to the electorate ahead of and during the Badvel by-election.
The party leadership is said to have made it clear that no financial assistance will be extended from the party to lure the voters. The party leadership added that they won the recent Tirupati Lok Sabha by-election without going for distribution of cash or gifts and the same should be followed in Badvel.
Chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, during a strategy meeting with senior ministers and legislators of Kadapa district, had observed that taking the welfare schemes being implemented by the government to the public is sufficient to garner the support of voters.
He, however, instructed the senior leaders not to be over-confident in handling the elections. He asked the party legislators to ensure that party cadre knock at the doors of voters in the constituency at least thrice before the campaign ends.
Jagan also told the leaders to explain to each and every voter during the campaign the welfare schemes that were launched after their government came to power.
Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, party strategy group head and minister in-charge for elections, held a closed door meeting with legislators and other ministers to chalk out the action plan. State government advisor and party general secretary, Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, is believed to have shared the views of the chief minister.
He said there would be no question of pumping funds for the sake of the by-election. “We need to focus on bringing as many beneficiaries of our welfare schemes as possible to the polling booth. That will do the rest,” Sajjala is reported to have said.
Meanwhile, the party is likely to intensify its campaign after the filing of nomination by the party candidate, Dr Dasari Sudha, on October 7.
All the key leaders drafted for the by-poll duties have reached Kadapa and started moving into the mandals assigned to them. Chandragiri legislator and government whip Chevireddy Bhaskara Reddy has been deputed to Gopavaram mandal, which the party lost in the recent ZPTC elections.
He is reported to have discussed with the local leaders the reasons for the defeat of the party nominee in the ZPTC elections.
Sources said Chevireddy found internal groupism in the mandal as the reason for the defeat of the party nominee. He held discussions with local leaders and asked them not to repeat the mistakes. He made it clear that anti-party activities will not be tolerated. Chevireddy has also readied a list of leaders with specific tasks and has told local leaders he would visit all villages in the mandal.
