Cash for vote scam: Revanth Reddy will come out unscathed, say AP ministers

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Ministers N Chinnarajappa and K E Krishnamurthy expressed confidence that TDP legislator in Telangana, who was arrested for allegedly trying to bribe a nominated MLA in the Legislative Council polls, would come out "unscathed".

Chinnarajappa, who looks after the home portfolio, and Krishnamurthy took exception to Telangana Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy's comments that AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was the "key person" in the case for which TDP MLA A Revanth Reddy was arrested.

"Telangana Home Minister says he will make Chandrababu Naidu the accused. How can you do it? Revanth Reddy will come out successfully without any problems," Krishnamurthy said on Friday.

Chinnarajappa said the Telangana government should publicise tapes on Naidu's conversation, which it claims to have.

"Revanth Reddy was trapped. (Telangana) Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy says Chandrababu Naidu is involved.  Firstly, there is no Chandrababu Naidu connection. They say some tapes have been recorded. Show those tapes, if you have the guts. Chandrababu Naidu never encourages such wrong things," Chinnarajappa said.

Telangana Home Minister Narasimha Reddy had alleged two days ago that AP CM Naidu is the "key person" in the issue.

"Revanth Reddy got embroiled (in the matter) by giving an offer of Rs 5 crore to defeat our party (TRS) MLCs (candidates in council elections). This is going to bring a big change in politics in the state because AP CM Chandrababu Naidu is the key person behind this," he had said.

"Chandrababu spoke to the MLA on phone. That telephone call information exists. People are demanding that Chandrababu be made the main accused," the Telangana Home Minister had said, adding that the law will take its own course in the matter.

Yesterday, Naidu said that he would not be "cowed down by any threats".

"(Telangana) Home Minister (Nayani Narasimha Reddy) is saying that a case will be filed against me. I can say one thing, that the TDP is synonymous with honesty and integrity. I have been in politics for 30 years," Naidu said.

"I have never indulged in wrong politics like you. If you have the guts, you should file a case against your Chief Minister (K Chandrasekhar Rao), for how he gave a berth to my MLA in the Cabinet (a reference to an MLA elected on a TDP ticket being made a minister in the Telangana Cabinet)," Naidu said while addressing a meeting in East Godavari district.