MP Arvind: Congress Encourages Cheaters To Win Municipal Elections

 Nizamabad: BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind made sharp allegations against a Congress mayor candidate, Shamantha Narender Reddy, claiming that if elected, they would loot the city. He alleged that Narender Reddy had failed to pay Rs 8.16 crore in property tax on a hotel building since 2009, and questioned why the dues were not collected for years. He further claimed the arrears were cleared only ahead of elections.

Addressing reporters at the BJP office on Wednesday, Arvind alleged that Narender Reddy influenced municipal officials and deliberately avoided paying taxes, not due to financial constraints but due to lack of integrity. He claimed the entire Rs 8.16 crore was paid in one instalment solely to enable election participation. Arvind warned that if such a person became mayor, the city would face blatant looting, regardless of caste or community.

He appealed to voters to ensure the Congress does not even secure its deposit in the 19th division, while stating that the party might retain deposits elsewhere. He pointed out that Narender Reddy’s wife, Shamantha Reddy, is contesting from the 19th division, and said those who allegedly cheated city residents for 17 years do not deserve to contest elections.

Arvind said the BJP had denied tickets to 18 sitting representatives, citing corruption allegations and reservation constraints, and claimed the party does not field candidates facing corruption charges. He also alleged a secret understanding between the Congress and the MIM, asserting that the Congress posed no real challenge to the BJP in the city. He further claimed the Congress had given tickets to candidates denied tickets by the BJP.

He said the BJP state president would decide the party’s mayoral candidate and assured that if the BJP comes to power, property tax arrears would be collected from all defaulters without exception, including prominent hotels.