2009 Poll Prospects And Alignments-2

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<b>Praja Rajyam to highlight caste achievements
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Express News Service
First Published : 31 Jan 2009 08:34:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 31 Jan 2009 01:24:41 PM IST

HYDERABAD: In an attempt to enlighten BCs on securing power, the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) is going to hold week-long programmes from February 1 to 7. During the week, each day’s programmes will be dedicated to the name of different historical personalities belonging to the BCs.

PRP general secretary Allu Aravind announced the programme at a media meet here today. He said the week-long programme would be christened ‘Mahatma Jyothirao Phule BC Enlightenment Week’. As part of it, Assembly constituency-level conventions would be held. Aravind said though the BCs constituted 48 to 52 per cent of the State’s population, they were being kept away from political power. After PRP president Chiranjeevi’s exhortations on empowering BCs, all parties had started showering boons on them, he said.

The programme on February 1 would be dedicated to the memory of Pragada Kotaiah. The next day would be called ‘Katamaraju Memorial Day’ while February 3 would be called ‘T Venkataswami Raju, Maharshi Valmiki Day’.

February 4 would be observed as the day of Chakali Ilemma and poetess Molla while February 5 as Gouthu Lachanna, D Venkata Reddy and Sarvai Papanna Memorial Day, Aravind said.

Programmes on February 6 will be held in the names of Pothuluri Virabrahmendra Swami and his disciple Siddaiah while those on the next day will be held in the name of Sathyalingam Nayakar. Allu Aravind also said district-level BC conventions would be held in due course and a State-level meet with a large number of BCs would soon be held.

Replying to a question, Allu Aravind said he could not tell the exact number of Assembly tickets to be given to the BCs in the next elections. However, his party would try to correct the injustice done by the other political parties, he asserted. Speaking on the Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) episode, he said since the issue was before the disciplinary committee of the party, he could not comment on the allegations made by Srinivas against him.