Wake Up Lokesh, Hit The Road

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the main Opposition in Andhra Pradesh, is facing an existential threat with a majority of the party leaders being lured by the ruling YCP. In such a situation, the TDP cadre finds a need for an able leadership to deal with the situation and make the tidings favourable at least by the next general elections.

The TDP cadre, apparently, seems to be confining to levelling allegations and venting out anger but not swinging into action at the field-level.

As TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu has been restricting himself to his Hyderabad house during the last few months due to Covid-19 pandemic, which it is being said would cause more harm to the elderly, the party cadre is pinning hopes on heir apparent N. Lokesh Babu.

There is talk that Lokesh would take up a cycle yatra in the run-up to the next general elections scheduled in 2024. In the meanwhile, he can focus on some burning issues in the state to gain extra political mileage.

There are several issues that can be raised by the TDP being the main opposition party in the state.

Pathetic roads

The TDP cadre feels that Lokesh can raise the issue of bad roads which are breaking the backs of bikers and motorists. Even the state highways and thoroughfares in cities and towns are pothole ridden and their condition only worsened due to the cyclone-induced rains in the recent times. The party functionaries suggest that Lokesh should sit on the roads demanding repairs and laying of new ones which would certainly get into public notice and help them gain an edge over the YCP.

Flawed sand policy

Similarly, the party leaders also suggest that Lokesh can focus on the flawed sand policy in the state which has been testing the patience of all those in the construction sector. For more than six months after taking charge as the Chief Minister, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy stalled supply of sand saying that the government would frame a new policy soon and then resume supply. Then the YCP government introduced the online booking of sand which also had technical glitches and people suffered a lot due to the quota imposed on the sand supply. Later, the Corona crisis dealt a deathblow to the construction sector and then heavy rains drowned many sand reaches making it unavailable for the consumers.

Lokesh can demand the government to frame a flawless sand policy that would be able to cater to the needs of the construction sector.

Rise in prices of fuels, essentials

Of late, the rise in the prices of essentials has become a burden on the common man, who has been suffering due to job loss following the spread of Coronavirus. Many companies retrenched the workforce, as part of cost-cutting measures after the outbreak of Covid-19.

Even while the public were still struggling to make both the ends meet, the YCP government has increased the value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel in July and in September, promulgated an Ordinance amending the APVAT Act, 2005 to levy and collect Road Development Cess of Rs 1 per litre on petrol and diesel, which will be in addition to the existing levies.

The YCP government, with its revenues almost drying up due to Coronavirus, expects that the new cess would help it get a revenue of around Rs 500 crore per year. The cess will be transferred to the AP Road Development Corporation, said Special Chief Secretary (commercial taxes) Rajat Bhargava.

Further, the government also issued a GO stating that it would adapt dynamic-fuel pricing system which means the rate of fuels will keep fluctuating every day. There is talk that the lorry owners can save nearly Rs 12,000 if they get it the tank of their vehicle filled in Bengaluru, when compared to doing the same in Andhra Pradesh.

Lokesh can bring the party cadre together to fight for rolling back of the hiked fuel prices.

Attack on temples

The regular attacks on Hindu temples and desecration of idols and damaging of properties is one other area on which the TDP can raise its voice.

Above all, the YCP government is reportedly getting cases filed against the TDP leaders and activists which can be checked only by the TDP leadership.

As a young and dynamic leader aspiring to become the Chief Minister, Lokesh needs to interact with the party cadre, hold discussions and bring the party cadre together to fight against the anti-people policies of the YCP government. He should chalk out an action plan that can curtail the excesses of the ruling party in various areas, suggested the TDP leaders.