Naidu, Chiru outdo Reds

BY J.R.PRASAD

Hyderabad, May 1: The Telugu Desam chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the Praja Rajyam supremo, Mr Chiranjeevi, outdid the Communists in endorsing the cause of the working class on May

Day.
Both the leaders lavishly used Leftist jargon while addressing workers and trade unionists at their respective party
offices.
“Long live workers unity and trade unionism,” was the slogan mouthed by both the leaders to round off their speeches. It was a different take for these two leaders who had spent much of their time in the last few weeks castigating their political rivals on the campaign
trail.
On May Day they played trade union leaders to perfection by speaking about the travails of the working class, economic inequality and the need for redistribution of wealth.
Mr Naidu called upon the labourers across the world to wage a fight against the governments in unison to achieve their reasonable demands. Chiranjeevi also set up Karmika Rajyam, a front organisation of his party exclusively for labourers.
Interestingly, when Mr Naidu and Chiranjeevi tried to outdo Communist leaders with their revolutionary speeches, the CPI(M) state secretary, Mr B.V. Raghavulu, participated in May Day celebrations in his party office with his trademark white dress.
Meanwhile, the NTR Bhavan, the TD headquarters, looked bright with a new coat of yellow paint in which the party name was emblazoned in red letters, as if to advertise the party’s friendship with the Left.
The ruling Congress also celebrated May Day at Gandhi Bhavan with pomp and gaiety.
The PCC chief, Mr D. Srinivas, addressed pro-Congress unions and said it was the United Progressive Alliance government which implemented pro-working class policies in the
country.
Mr Naidu told mediapersons that land distribution to the poor would be his first priority after coming to power. “I will think about other schemes only after giving house sites to all the poor persons in the state,” he said.