Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is reportedly inclined to call early polls to the state assembly, has convened a cabinet meeting on November 8 to take a decision on the issue.
The crucial meeting follows four weeks of intense speculation in the ruling Telugu Desam Party on possible early elections to cash in on the perceived 'sympathy' for Naidu in the wake of the assassination attempt on him by the outlawed People's War at Tirupati on October 1.
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Many senior ministers and party functionaries have exerted pressure on Naidu to dissolve the state assembly and seek early election in February/March 2004.
The present assembly's term expires only in September 2004.
Lending credence to reports that AP may be in for an assembly election earlier than it had bargained, the state cabinet has advanced deadlines for the implementation of its 'one crore sops' scheme.
The sops announced at the Telugu Desam's annual convention in Tirupati in May this year were earlier slated to be implemented in a year's time.
The Naidu government has also decided to extend the sops to an additional 30 lakh families, taking the total coverage to 1.3 crore families.
The sops include 25 lakh fresh ration cards to poor families, 20 lakh gas connections for members of DWACRA (women's self-help) groups, 10 lakh housing pattas, 6.5 lakh houses, 37.5 lakh latrines for weaker sections, two lakh bicycles for girl students in rural areas and monetary assistance and financial relief (by way of waiver of interest on loans and waiver of surcharge on outstanding power bills) for farmers.
In the last couple of days, Naidu has held one-to-one consultations with almost all top leaders and party functionaries.
He has also held a series of review meetings with officials to expedite the implementation of the 'one crore sops' package.
Naidu has also finalised the dates for laying of foundation stones for a string of new irrigation projects in several districts and for starting work on several pending projects.
TDP's political and electoral ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, also favours early election in Andhra Pradesh.
BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of State Bandaru Dattatreya and BJP state president N Indrasena Reddy have gone on record saying they would endorse the government's decision if early polls are called.
Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani is also said to have 'welcomed' the idea at a luncheon meeting with the chief minister last Sunday.
The proponents of early polls contend that the sympathy generated for Naidu in the wake of PW's failed attempt on his life has eclipsed the anti-incumbency factor.
The arrest of TDP legislator C Krishna Yadav in the multi-crore rupee inter-state stamps paper scam, inter-district and inter-regional rows and farmers' agitations demanding release of Krishna and Tungabhadra waters for the kharif crops, high court's strictures against the continuance of a minister facing trial in a double-murder case and the medical admissions muddle had affected the image and credibility of the ruling party.
However, the political scenario changed overnight with the abortive bid on the chief minister life.
When Naidu recuperated and resumed official work, his ministerial colleagues, MPs and legislators brought in hordes of
their supporters from the districts every day to cheer the leader.
Senior ministers and party functionaries point out that the cabinet meeting on November 8 is not likely to come out with a recommendation to Governor Surjit Singh Barnala for the dissolution of the state assembly.
Before such a step is taken, a lot of works will have to be done to bolster the ruling party's electoral prospects.
The state government will probably effect mass reshuffle of officers in the revenue, police and panchayat raj
departments before the cabinet sends in the recommendation to the governor.
