Sharmila To Go On 3,000 Km Padayatra

In an apparent move to counter the marathon padayatra "Vastunna Mee Kosam" launched by Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, the YSR Congress party, too, has announced that YSR's daughter Sharmila will undertake a similar padayatra from October 18.

Addressing a press conference at YSRCP headquarters at Lotus Pond on Thursday, YSR Congress party honorary president Y S VijayalLakshmi on Thursday announced that her daughter Sharmila would undertake a "Praja Prasthanam" padayatra from October 18.

The padayatra will begin from YSR's samadhi at Idupulapaya in Cuddapah district. After a distance of about 3,000 kilometres, the padayatra will end in Ichapuram of Srikakulam district. This means that Sharmila will be covering about 600 kms more than Naidu will in his padayatra.

Vijayamma, however, refused to say whether the padayatra would also cover Telangana districts. She said that the party would soon announce the entire route map of the padayatra.

She also denied that "Praja Prasthanam" was aimed to counter Naidu's Yatra. Instead, she said, "It was Naidu who emulated former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy by undertaking the padayatra."

The YSRCP honorary president alleged that there was no administration in the state, and that Kiran Kumar Reddy's government has "failed on all fronts".

She said that all segments have been badly hit due to the energy crisis.

"While lakhs of farmers have lost or were on the verge of losing their crops, several industries have shut down due to power outages," she said.

She also alleged that the Telugu Desam Party has failed to play the role of a responsible main opposition party. She said that Naidu had undertaken his padayatra only to return to power in the next elections, and not for the people.

Vijayamma also announced that Kadapa MP and her son Y S Jagammohan Reddy would continue his Odarpu Yatra after his release from jail. She said that the only aim of the YSR Congress was to realise the unfulfilled dreams of YSR for the state and its people.

Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, spokespersons Ambati Rambabu and Bajireddy Govardhan Reddy and former MP K Ramakrishna were also present. (INN)