ADILABAD: In a surprising move ahead of the Assembly elections, the ruling BRS nominees were taking care of developmental works in their respective constituencies where poll tickets were denied to the MLAs in the erstwhile Adilabad district.
Showing the incumbent MLAs in a poor light, the ruling party was ‘empowering’ its candidates by releasing funds for the pending developmental works in these constituencies.
Of the total 10 constituencies – three ST, two SC and five general -- the BRS has changed its candidates for the three ST constituencies in the erstwhile Adilabad district. ZP chairperson Kova Laxmi was given a ticket against MLA Atram Sakku in Asifabad. New face and NRI Bhukya Johson Rathod Naik was chosen for Khanapur against MLA Ajmera Rekha Naik and Neredigonda ZPTC Anil Jadhav from Boath against sitting MLA Rathod Bapu Rao.
During the campaign, the BRS candidates of Boath and Khanapur segments in the district were claiming that they had a good rapport with the party's high command and would get hundreds of crores sanctioned for the development of their constituency if they were elected in the elections which led to a rift between the BRS MLAs and nominees.
Proving this right, endowments minister Allola Indrakaran Reddy reportedly gave an order copy of the funds released for the development of a temple to BRS candidate Anil Jadhav in the Boath constituency. BRS MLA Rathod Bapurao alleged that the party’s high command deliberately kept him aside from being involved in development works in the constituency.
On the other hand, Khanapur BRS MLA Ajmeera Rekha Naik, who was denied a party ticket, overtly criticised the state government for halting the ACDP funds (Assembly Constituency Development Program) to her constituency so that people would blame her for pending works.
She said BRS candidate Bhukya Johnson Rathod Naik was receiving petitions from the people for sanctioning welfare schemes and promising them to provide funds for development works in villages during his election campaign.
