Ministers adopt ‘safe’ villages under Grama Jyothi programme

Khammam: While many public representatives in the district have selected villages for adoption under Grama Jyothi programme as per their convenience, some MLAs have ignored the programme calling it a political gimmick.

Each one has his own reason for adopting a village. Minister for roads and buildings Tummala Nageswara Rao, for instance, has adopted Maddupalli under Khammam Rural mandal keeping his political future in view. Maddulapalli is located in Palair Assembly segment and the minister, who tasted defeat at the hands of Puvvada Ajay Kumar in Khammam Assembly segment, is reportedly considering Palair to fulfil his future goal. He now plans to contest from Palair in 2019 elections.

Aswaraopet MLA Thati Venkateswarlu has selected Nandipadu village under Aswaraopet mandal owing to its proximity to his native village of Sarapaka. It takes about an hour for the YSRC turned TRS MLA to reach the village from Sarapaka inapaka YSRC MLA Payam Venkateswarlu has adopted Morampalli Banjara under Burgumpahad mandal. Sources said, “Payam selected the village as he has more friends there. The MLA formed a strong circle in the village when he was the MLA of CPI.” Former minister R. Venkata Reddy, who got elected from Palair constituency, has adopted Pocharam under Kusumanchi mandal on the request of Ramasahayam Venkat Reddy, Congress leader and his relative. Sattupalli MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah has also not selected any village in his constituency so far.