After being felt ignored, whom do Christians vote in AP?

Vijayawada, Sept 28: Christians in Andhra Pradesh who swore adherence to the ruling Telugu Desam are ruing the way they are being treated by the powers that be in the party.

Christians form at least 15 percent of the total population of the state and form a major portion of the vote bank.

Despite the Christian accreditation of YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, a majority of Christians stood as a strong support base for the TDP in the last general elections. However, now they are disappointed with the ruling party.

Christians are irked about the importance being given to Muslims by the TDP leadership, especially after easing ties with the BJP-led NDA. They are of the opinion that similar importance is not being given to them.

The reason being that it has been 4-and-a-half years that the new government has been formed, but heads of the AP Christian Finance Corporation (APCFC) like chairman and directors have not been appointed.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had promised that the vice-chairman's post of the state minority commission would be given to Christians which was also not honoured. The post of chairman of the minority commission went to the Muslims.

The Christians feel that a dedicated executive body to the APCFC would help them do repairs of churches, burial grounds and also provide financial assistance to poor Christian youth. In the absence of the executive body, all these tasks are not being done properly in the state.

"Christians constitute about 15% of the total population in the state. Lack of strong leadership from the community is divesting them of their share in the welfare programmes," a Christian leader of the TDP said.

With strong Bishops and pastors keeping themselves away from politics, the party leadership is not giving the community owed inclination while filling the ency nominated posts, felt another senior leader.

"Christians are numerically strong but completely ignored by the government. It would not do the party any good in the next elections," criticised a pastor who did not wish to be quoted. He said that they just wanted their share of 15,000 crore being spent on BC welfare.

Christians in Telugu Desam are eagerly waiting for the filling up of posts of the Christian Corporation.

The government constituted at least six new corporations in the last 8 months, except for the Christian Corporation. TDP Christian leaders are disappointed at the continued neglect of their community.