God kept me alive to serve people: Babu

TIRUPATI: Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu, who survived a powerful bomb blast at Alipiri in 2003, has said he has remained alive by Lord Venkateswara’s grace. On October 1, 2003 when Naidu, as chief minister, was going to Tirumala to offer Vastrams to Lord Venkateswara during the annual Brahmtosvams, Naxalites exploded Claymore mines in a bid to assassinate him. He offered prayers at the same spot on Monday.Talking with reporters here on Monday after offering prayers by breaking coconuts at the Alipiri Checkpoint, where the attack on him had taken place, an emotional Naidu said: “It is by Lord Venkateswara’s grace that I am alive today. I think He has kept me alive to serve people and I have dedicated my life to the society and its progress.”Claiming that he was a selfless politician, Naidu said he had at no point of time worked for himself or his family’s personal gains and whatever he did was for the welfare of the state.On the communal clashes in Hyderabad, he said communal harmony was maintained during TDP rule.After worshipping the Lord at Tirumala, the TDP president launched his party’s camapigning for the coming byelections. Addressing party workers at a meeting in Tirupati, he called upon Tirupati voters to lead the way in bringing the TDP back to power by electing the party’s candidate for the seat vacated by Chiranjeevi.Dwelling at length on local issues he said the TDP had, when in power,  meticulously worked for an all-round development of the world-famous pilgrim town.In a bid to woo BCs, Naidu declared that in the forthcoming byelections, the TDP would put up a Yadava for the mayoral post in case it was not reserved for STs.