Hyderabad: TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday filed his application to contest from the Kodangal Assembly seat. His bid received a shot in the arm as some BRS leaders joined Congress while former MLA Gurnath Reddy extended his support.
Addressing supporters in Chevella, Revanth Reddy said that if Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had any problems with BJP leader Etala Rajendar, he should sort them out personally. Taking his ire out on the Mudiraj community, to which Rajendra belongs, and denying them a single seat was unjustified.
He found fault with the induction of Patnam Mahendar Reddy, who is not from the Backward Classes community, into the Cabinet.
He said, “KCR gave just three ministerial posts to BCs who constitute 50 per cent of the population and four posts to those of his own caste who account for half a per cent. He promised to seek categorisation of Dalits but failed to question Modi on it even once. Furthermore, there is no one from the Madiga caste in the cabinet.”
The TPCC president said “We brought in the SC/ST sub plan to deliver justice to them. But KCR has rendered injustice by taking away lands given to them while tribals were tied to trees and beaten up. Social justice can only be ensured by a Congress government. KCR, Modi and Asaduddin Owaisi are together in sharing the spoils of power. A vote for BRS is a vote for AIMIM,” he said.
Addressing those who joined the party in Kodangal, Revanth Reddy said, “Rao cheated people despite promising that he will adopt Kodangal. The Hyderabad to Bijapur highway was because of my efforts as were schools, drinking water facilities, 30 substations, bus depot and several roads. In contrast, the BRS government has failed to complete the Narayanpet lift irrigation scheme.”
Taking objections to comments by incumbent MLA Patnam Narender Reddy calling for physical attacks, Gurnath Reddy said, “Persons like Narender are not suitable for public office. He should be defeated this time.”
Explaining that improving the living standards of the people was the single point agenda of his party, Revanth Reddy said, “By increasing the health insurance limit to '5 lakh we will provide free health for all under Aarogyasri. Unlike now, pensions of '4,000 will be given on the first of every month. Rao is switching his constituency as he fears defeat in Gajwel. The spectre of defeat was evident in his speeches.”
Addressing Congress cadre in Tandur, he thanked them for standing by the party in the hour of crisis despite desertions by others.
Referring to the induction of MLC Mahendar Reddy into the cabinet, he flayed Rao and said, “What would accrue to Tandur with his joining the cabinet now? The BRS leaders are found to be involved in all sorts of wrongdoings. Did we deliver a state to enable BRS leader’s loot? I call on the cadre to come to Chevella in droves and make the meeting in which SC/ST declaration is set to be unveiled a success.”
Kodangal MPP Muddappa Deshmukh, municipal chairman Jagappa and MPTCs were among those who joined on the occasion.
