PNS|Hyderabad
Election surveys have shown that KCR will lose in Gajwel and that is why KCR is looking at other constituencies, TPCC President A. Revanth Reddy said.“Why is KCR not saying that he will give tickets only to sitting BRS MLAs?” Revanth asked.
He challenged BRS leaders to make KCR contest from Gajwel again if his government is supplying 24-hour free power to farmers.
Speaking to the media on Saturday at the Gandhi Bhavan, Revanth said KCR should give tickets to 104 sitting BRS MLAs if they had ruled the state wonderfully as claimed by BRS leaders, Ministers and MLAs.
“If KCR has the guts he should contest from Gajwel again. Otherwise, KCR will have to admit that he is inefficient,” he said. Revanth said that the election survey had revealed that 80 per cent of the 104 sitting MLAs will lose.
He said the fear of defeat is the reason for the cries of BRS leaders about free electricity supply. He said that the scheme giving free electricity to farmers was started by the Congress.
Responding to the accusations made by Minister T. Harish Rao, Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy and others against the Congress, he said that the arguments of BRS public representatives have no basis at all.
He reminded that before any party in the country even thought about it, the Congress gave free electricity to farmers.
Revanth also gave a strong counter to the demand of BRS leaders and ministers for a referendum on free electricity supply. “There are 3,500 substations in Telangana. Our MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy showed logbooks and proved that there was no 24-hour free electricity supply. Let’s organise gram sabhas and rachabanda near all substations. Let’s have a discussion with farmers. If 24-hour free electricity is being given as BRS leaders claim, the Congress will not ask for votes in the substation’s limits. The BRS should not ask for votes within the limits of the substation if 24-hour free electricity is not being provided. Are you ready for this? We are prepared to go anywhere on this matter. If you are ready to take up the challenge our Sampath in Alampur, Chinna Reddy in Wanaparthy, me in Kodangal and Mallu Ravi in Nagarkurnool LS constituency will participate,” Revanth said.
He accused the BRS government of trying to say that the free electricity supply scheme was not started by the Congress.
He recalled that in 1999 when YSR was the PCC President, the issue of free electricity supply was included in the election manifesto. “As the party did not come to power in 1999, we could not give free electricity. The TDP which came to power at that time increased electricity charges. The Congress and the Communists fought together on this. Criminal cases were filed against 25,000 farmers. Three farmers were killed in the Basheer Bagh firing during the Chalo Assembly stir. Many farmers were seriously injured,” he said.
“KCR was the Chairman of the TDP HR Department during Chandrababu’s rule. The HRD is the policy-making wing of the TDP. Policies formulated by that department are then implemented by the government. Pocharam Srinivas Reddy was the minister and Gutha Sukhender Reddy was in a key post. They drafted the electricity policy along with Chandrababu Naidu. Are you not responsible for the Basheer Bagh firing as you were in power at that time,” he said.
“The Basheer Bagh firing took place on August 28, 2000. KCR was Deputy Speaker at that time. On April 21, 2001, KCR resigned from the TDP. Isn’t it true that KCR who wanted to become a minister was ready to do anything to please Chandrababu? Chandrababu did not give an appointment to KCR even after nine months,” he said.
