Kishan Reddy Accuses Congress of ‘Vote Theft’
On the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, floral tributes were paid at the BJP state office to India’s Iron Man and architect of unity, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
HYDERABAD: Strongly countering Congress allegations of ‘vote chori’, Union minister G. Kishan Reddy accused the party of committing the first ‘vote theft’ in independent India. He said the Nehru family of that era crushed internal democracy and placed Jawaharlal Nehru, “who had practically no public support”, on the prime ministerial throne.
Briefing media persons about the arrangements for Union home minister Amit Shah’s Maha Padayatra on November 2, Kishan Reddy, along with state BJP president N. Ramachander Rao, said the first ‘vote theft’ took place against Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. “Had Patel become the first Prime Minister, the nation’s landscape and outlook would have completely changed and many complex problems faced by the country would have found permanent solutions,” he said.
On the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, floral tributes were paid at the BJP state office to India’s Iron Man and architect of unity, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Kishan Reddy lashed out at Nehru, alleging that his “backroom deals and selfish political policies” created severe confusion in the integration process of the princely states. Despite this, Patel, as Home Minister, took independent and courageous decisions to successfully integrate more than 550 princely states into India, forging a unified nation.
The Union minister emphasised that Patel’s vision and firmness ensured that the country did not fragment at the time of independence. He said Patel’s contribution continues to inspire generations, and the BJP was committed to upholding his legacy through programmes such as the Maha Padayatra.
A preparatory meeting was held at the BJP office under Kishan Reddy’s chairmanship to finalise arrangements for Shah’s visit. The meeting, attended by senior leaders and state functionaries, discussed logistics, mobilisation of cadres, and programme execution to ensure the grand success of the Maha Padayatra.
Union minister Kishan Reddy and BJP state president Ramachander Rao called upon party cadres to work collectively and energetically to counter the Congress narrative and to showcase the BJP’s organisational strength. They said the padyatra would serve as a demonstration of unity and resolve, coinciding with Patel’s birth anniversary.
Earlier, Kishan Reddy, Ramachander Rao and other senior leaders, accompanied by police officials, inspected arrangements along the route from the Babu Jagjivan Ram statue at Basheerbagh to MJ Market. Barricading, security deployment, and crowd management measures were reviewed to ensure smooth conduct of the programme.
