Chandrababu Naidu`s walkathon enters 100th day

Hyderabad: Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu`s ongoing foot march entered the 100th day on Wednesday after covering over 1,500 kms in 41 assembly constituencies across Andhra Pradesh.

The former chief minister`s walkathon "Vastunna Meekosam" (I am coming to you), that began on October 2, is all set to continue it till March 29, though as per the original schedule it is supposed to end on Republic Day. Chandrababu has so far walked past 702 villages in 41 Assembly constituencies spread over nine out of 23 districts in the state. Now, he has entered the 10th district after covering a total of 1587 km in 99 days. On January 4, he broke the previous record of 1,468 km (in 68 days) set by the then Leader of Opposition Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in 2003 at the age of 54. The "Praja Prasthanam" foot march led YSR to the Chief Minister`s chair in 2004 and 63-year-old Chandrababu -- now the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly -- hopes to achieve a similar feat. The wind, however, is apparently blowing against the TDP in the current political scenario prevailing in AP. YSR`s son Jaganmohan Reddy has emerged as the main challenger for Chandrababu in the "mega fight" set for 2014. Chandrababu has been virtually promising everything in the state "once I become Chief Minister again". From loan waiver for farmers and women self-help groups to free houses to the poor, free education to all from "KG to PG", 10 LPG cylinders to each household and almost everything that one wishes. During the course of his 100-day walkathon, he has desperately sought to shed the "hi-tech CEO" image that he acquired during his stint as CM between 1995 and 2004. He is trying to re-invent not only himself but also the TDP that is facing an unprecedented crisis in its 31-year history. The TDP chief donned the farmer`s robes and tilled the land, became a blacksmith, ironed clothes, tried his hand at weaving clothes, tapped toddy (without climbing the tree, though), did some carpentry, weaved cane baskets and played every artisan`s role as he mingled with people of all hues all through his yatra. PTI