APCC justifies decision to contest Nandigama bypoll

Vijayawada: Reiterating his party’s commitment of upholding the tradition of not fielding candidates in the event of a member of a deceased legislator’s family contests the bypoll, APCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy justified the Congress’ decision to contest the Nandigama byelection by saying that the sole purpose was to highlight the failures of the Telugu Desam government.

“The TD hasn’t fulfilled its election promise and we must highlight this fact. The TD can offer an MLC’s seat to Ms Sowmya, daughter of former MLA Tangirala Prabhakara Rao,” Mr Reddy told newsmen here.

He said that the Congress was contesting the byelection to protect the interests of the people as the TD has adopted anti-people policies. “It has failed to fulfil election promises, including farm loans and Dwcra group loan waiver scheme,” the APCC chief said, adding that the government has allotted a meagre Rs 1,000 crore for BC welfare in the budget, and just Rs 342 crore for minority welfare.

The CM also failed to give at least one Cabinet post to a Muslim candidate, Mr Reddy said.

He said the people supported the TD in the general elections believing that it may be able to create more jobs, but the TD government was removing outsourcing staff from their jobs in the housing corporation.

Expressing confidence about the his party’s chances, Mr Reddy said that Congress won four times, TD seven, CPI thrice and Janata Party once from Nandigama.