The News Minute | January 19, 2015 | 8:20 am ISTAndhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday trekked between Velivennu village to Brahmanagudem in the West Godavari district, covering 18 km, in a bid to strengthen his image along the coastal districts.Naidu went around the villages holding roadside meetings and also launched the "smart village" programme and tried to explain the benefits to the villagers.He added that the state government has taken up several welfare programmes including loan waiver scheme for farmers despite dire financial constraints. The AP government plans to convert thousands of rural areas into `smart villages' by providing basic amenities there.Post by Telugu Desam Party (TDP).However, a lot of farmers have apprehensions about technology entering their lives, as Naidu's image of "pro-development" has not sat well with a minority - a section, which opposition parties want to exploit to their advantage.Sunday was also the 19th death anniversary of TDP founder and former chief minister of (United) AP N T Rama Rao, which is why Naidu chose to walk, as a tribute.I bow to our Telugu Desam Party founder, my icon and messiah of the masses Sri Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao on his 19th death anniversary.— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) January 18, 2015Many people including Jr NTR and his father ex-MP Harikrishna paid floral tributes to the legendary actor turned politician in Hyderabad on Sunday.TweetFollow @thenewsminute