koustubbhargav Posted April 18, 2009 Report Posted April 18, 2009 By Abhimaan Kashyap The busiest person on day one of the Congress campaign was Sabitha Reddy. She was at the venue hours ahead of YSR’s arrival, talking to supporters and making arrangements. Her mobile phone never stopped ringing. “Ok anna, ok anna”, she said into the phone, perhaps to the CM himself who was delayed in the city. YSR calls her his Chevella chellamma (sister). She is also the most sought-after leader in Chevella, a seat she held in the last Assembly. She has had to move to Maheshwaram because her bastion is now reserved, but her support is needed to help the Congress secure this seat. For years, this area has been a stronghold of the late P Indra Reddy and now his wife Sabitha Reddy. Clad in a brown sari, the chief minister’s lucky mascot described YSR as the ‘people’s star’ and said no film star was a match for him. She was the one who seized the opportunity to score a propaganda point when it rained even as YSR spoke. “YSR has brought rain to Chevella. He has your blessings and the blessings of the Almighty as well.” She is demure and seems the retiring sort. But her word is done in these parts. Said 65-year-old Lingamayya, a small farmer, “Sabithamma evarki vote veyyamante vallake ma votu.” Apparently, Sabithamma like Indranna is always reachable. “She’s with us in five minutes when we have a problem,” said Lingamayya. Being on call like an 108 ambulance is the key to popularity for any politico here. Farmers happy Most of the people who gathered for Rajasekhara Reddy’s meeting in Chevella were farmers. In this drought-prone land of soft red earth, farming is the main occupation, although the trappings of urban life are much in evidence. There are real estate developments, automobile workshops, yellow school buses and a whole clutch of engineering colleges on the drive to Chevella. But as in Rajasekhara Reddy’s ideology, farming is still the backbone. For Pratap Reddy, a small farmer from Yennepally in Vikarabad, the waiver of bank loans was the biggest favour done to him by the government, union or state. He had borrowed Rs 59,000 during the Naidu years when drought ruled the land. He could not repay. The bank waiver of Rs 58,000 loan was like a godsend. “Ilu kattukodaniki cementu itchindru. Naku ippudu illu unnadi, Arogyasri card unnadi. Inkem gavale,” he said. A well-built man in his 40s, he seemed in the pink of health. He looked every bit the Congress voter but when I popped the question, he wouldn’t reveal his mind. That’s something to all voters one met. They’ll tell you everything about themselves, but ask them who they’ll vote for and an ambiguous smiles appears on their face. Chiranjeevi for children Chiranjeevi may be Mega Star but counts for little in Chevella. His party is almost nonexistent. One saw a lone van belonging to Mayawati’s party but not a single sign of Chiranjeevi anywhere. A CD shop owner said he didn’t even know who the local Praja Rajyam Party leader is. Rafiq Ahmed, 35-year-old resident of Chevella, beamed when asked who his choice was. “I am a big fan of Chiranjeevi. But I like him only in the movies. I can’t vote for a party that is yet to prove itself.” One farmer said yes, he knew all about Chiranjeevi. “But film stars do nothing to me. They are for little children.” TDP, TRS hari hari Before the arival of the chief minister, the Congress cultural troupe kept the gathering amused with an ensemble of mimicry, songs and dances. For a hot afternoon it was at least distracting. The mimic did a brave imitation of YS and of course Naidu. There was a parody of a popular NTR number from Adavi Ramudu with the lyrics refitted for the Naidu age. Here’s a coda from the ditty, to be sung to the tune of ‘Aresukoboyi paaresukunnaanu’. “Mundemo TDP, enakemo TRS hari hari hari hari Ee rendu mee kompa munchuthayee Meeku mundu choopulekunte hari hari hari hari. Mahakutami antadu, colour TV antadu rashtram appula paalu chestadu hari hari hari hari.
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