HARISHCHANDRAPURAM(Guntur): Villagers of Harischandrapuram in the capital city region of Andhra Pradesh have decided to build a temple for chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on the Krishna riverfront.

Sources say the temple is an expression of gratitude to Naidu who has made the village part of the new state capital. The temple will apparently have a huge idol of Naidu akin to the Statue of Liberty in New York.

The temple is being planned on the riverbank in such a way that the waters of Krishna will touch it while Naidu's idol will be anywhere between 15-20 ft.

"There is a river ghat in our village and we will build the temple there. We have initially thought of getting an idol of 15 ft. But villagers felt that it should be even taller. So, we are planning to get a 20-ft idol made," B Satish Babu, a local farmer, told TOI. Harischandrapuram is a couple of km away from the capital region towards Amaravati.

Villagers say that they are more than happy to be part of this mega venture in honour of Naidu. "This is our way of thanking our CM who has been relentlessly working for the new capital. As there is no other auspicious occasion than the stone-laying ceremony muhurtham on October 22 for the capital, we are going ahead to lay the stone for the temple on the same day and at the same muhurtham of 12.35 pm- 12.45 pm," Buddi Sambasiva Rao, vice-president of village panchayat, said.

While the initial investment for the temple is put at Rs 15-20 lakh, the cost may go up to Rs 1 crore. Satish Babu, who is also mandal TDP vice-president, says they intend to complete the construction as soon as possible. "Villagers are coming forward to contribute funds for the construction of the temple. If people from nearby villages want to provide financial help, they are more than welcome," Babu told TOI.

The shape and contours of the temple will be worked out with the help of architects, he said.

Another villager Rama Seshaiah said their dream is to see that the new temple gets recognition as a tourist spot in the capital region. "Our leader (read Naidu) envisages to turn AP into a tourism hub and we would want this temple also to reflect his motto of tourism and development," he added.

Sources said the villagers have talked to close aides of the CM about their temple project already. "We are expecting a positive response from them," said another villager. Meanwhile, left parties have pooh-poohed the temple plan. "We have seen fans building temples for their favourite movie stars. This temple for a politician who has grabbed farmers' lands is absurd," a CPI leader said.