Telangana Cong chief to not shave beard till party comes to power

Hyderabad: Telangana Congress chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy has vowed to not shave his beard till Congress comes to power in the state.

Reddy told PTI on Monday that he was recently asked by some media persons how come he, a former top Indian Air Force officer, is growing beard.

"My reply was I will maintain beard till Congress comes to power in Telangana," he said.

Reddy, who served as ADC and Comptroller to the President and flew MIG-21 and MIG-23 aircrafts while in the Air Force, had always been a clean shaven man.

"But, it (growing beard) has enthused party cadres," said the 54-year-old MLA from Nalgonda district.

Reddy has been leading a number of agitations in recent times against the TRS government on issues like the ruling party's promise of farmers' loan waiver and release of dues for reimbursement of students' tuition fees and 'Arogya Sri' health scheme.

On Sunday, he took part in a 'padayatra' for revival of Nizam Sugars at Bodhan.

Congress in Telangana was left disappointed in 2014 Legislative Assembly elections over not coming to power despite "delivering" on the long-pending separate statehood demand.

Congress had won 21 seats in the 119-member Assembly.

The next Assembly elections are due in 2019, along with general elections.