The comments of power star and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan against the village and ward volunteers’ concept have triggered a state-wide uproar in Andhra Pradesh politics, with the ruling YSR Congress party leaders launching a broadside against him.
The Telugu Desam Party leaders are reacting very cautiously, apparently realising that any negative comments might prove counter productive for the party.
TDP president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, too, said he was not against the volunteers’ system per se, but would only oppose their political affiliation.
TDP parliament member from Vijayawada Kesineni Nani, who has not been in good terms with Naidu these days, said there was nothing wrong with the village volunteers’ system.
“Any system that works for the welfare of people is good, including the village volunteers’ system,” he said.
He, however, said the volunteers should work for the people, not for political parties.
“Even in the past, we have Janma Bhoomi committees. They, too, worked in a similar mechanism. The volunteers should work above politics,” he said.
The Vijayawada MP said every system would have good and bad elements.
“If the system is running good, it has to be continued. As long as volunteers do not work for the ruling party, there is no issue. Just because a few people are bad, you cannot blame the entire system,” he said.
