Visakhapatnam : TDP chief Chandra Babu Naidu’s ‘Vastunnaa Meekosam’ pada yatra covering over 2815 km is coming to a conclusion on Saturday.

Party is making massive arrangements to give a grand finale to the yatra that surpassed all previous records of other leaders. TDP organized eleven special trains from various parts of the state to Vizag, to bring party workers and supporters. These trains are carrying party men from Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasham, Guntur, Anantapur, Khammam, Hyderabad, Warangal and Vijayawada. An estimated 5 lakh people are expected to participate in the public meeting.

On the final day, Naidu would walk one kilometer at Kurmannapalem near Gajuvaka. From there he would go in a vehicle to the public meeting venue, 30 km from there. The meeting is being organized in the Andhra University Engineering College campus.

Family members of Naidu have already arrived in Visakhapatnam. His wife Bhuvaneswari and son Lokesh joined him on Friday. Chandrababu and Bhuvaneswari personally served lunch to those who participated in the Yatra. Senior leaders Paritala Sunita, Vallabhaneni Vamsi, Dhoolipala Narendra, Yanamala Rama Krishnudu and others met Naidu on Friday and held discussions.

Bala Krishna, the star attraction

Hero Bala Krshna is going to be the star attraction for the finale. He has already reached Visakhapatnam. He would be also addressing the public meeting. Other heroes of the Nandamuri family Taraka Ratna and Kalyan Ram would also be joining the show. However, whether Hari Krishna and his son Jr. NTR would participate in it or not is not yet known.

Unmatched achievement

At the age of 63 Naidu achieved what was thought to be a highly impossible task, walking for 200 days, covering 16 districts. He walked for 14 to 15 kms a day, despite facing serious health problems. He met thousands of people on the way. He tried to understand the problems of farmers, farm workers, students, women and all other sections of the society.

Naidu who started the Yatra in a critically adverse situation, succeeded in enthusing the party ranks. When he started the yatra, his party was in a hopeless situation. It was facing serious onslaught from the YSR Congress in the Seemandhra region and TRS in Telangana. There was no hope for any of the party leaders that TDP would come back to power in 2014. Naidu was also dismayed at the emergence of Jagan as a strong political force. It was said that while Chiranjeevi played the spoil sport for TDP in 2009, it would be Jagan in 2014. But Naidu did not want to take it lying back. He is 63 and this was his last chance to come back to power. If he fails to get back to power in 2014, the very existence of TDP would be doubtful. Even if it did, Naidu would be too old to lead it in 2019. It is in this situation that he undertook his pada yatra and succeeded in building new confidence among the people. Known as an able administrator, he tried to build confidence among the people that he would solve all their problems when he came back to power. He also explained to the people about the corruption and inefficiency of the Congress government. He particularly targeted Jagan and kept telling the people how he “plundered one lakh crore rupees”.

Though Naidu succeeded in enthusing the party ranks, it should be seen if he could convince the people, whose trust he forfeited a decade ago. It should be seen if the farmers whom he allegedly neglected during his rule, would once again be convinced of his concern. Government employees also had misgivings about Naidu. During his rule, it was said he tried to outsource most government work and minimize staff recruitment. Being a hard task-master, he invited the wrath of the employees. This is also said to be one of the reasons for Naidu losing power. It should be seen how far he has succeeded in winning back these sections through his yatra.