Guntur: Alleging that Congress-naxalite nexus would spell disaster for the country, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today (Apr 23, 2004) said that the party would have to pay a heavy price for "hobnobbing with naxalites".

Speaking at a poll meet in Tadikonda village in Guntur district, where J Purpha Raj, Minister for Social Welfare is in the fray for the Assembly polls, Naidu said, "Naxalites believe that the power flows from the barrel of the gun and have no faith in the ballot."

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Stating that the naxalite menace has become a national problem, Naidu said only the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the national level and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) at the State level could deliver the goods as "we are committed to render social justice".

Referring to Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka row over the height of the Almatti Dam on river Krishna in Karnataka, he deplored the "pathetic attitude" of Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the "plight of the farmers for want of water from Krishna river".

He said, "I led an all party delegation to the Prime Minister in New Delhi last year and sought the good offices of Sonia Gandhi as Karnataka is ruled by Congress, she did not grant me an interview."

Amidst tight security Naidu is campaigning in Palnadu area in Guntur district, a naxal stronghold, with IAF helicopters as part of stepped up security.