Hyderabad: Union minister and state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy said that BRS has given tickets to corrupt leaders and those who are part of the liquor mafia. Given the deep-rooted antagonism against the BRS, people are looking up to the BJP as an alternative.
Addressing the media in Delhi along with BRS legislator Rathod Babu Rao who joined the BJP, he said, “His joining us will strengthen the party in backward tribal areas like Adilabad. This is evidence of the support that our party is getting in those areas. The Congress party has failed to keep its promises in Karnataka. Having failed to honour them, it is using Karnataka, where it came to power making many promises, to fund the ‘Telangana election tax’ that it has imposed on the people there. The party is using the same money here.”
The BRS, which has left Telangana in a dismal state, is unable to pay salaries to its employees. The state has been left debt-ridden. To get the state economy on track we need a double-engine government. Some important Congress leaders will also be joining us, he said.
On Vivek Venkataswamy leaving the party, he said, “We are the biggest political party in the world. We are inviting many into our fold; some may leave but that will not affect us as we work for the nation. They might leave owing to their personal reasons. We can’t stop people who want to leave as we are a democracy. The seat adjustment with Jana Sena will be arrived at. The talks are on. “
On the fate of the manifesto drafted by him, he said, “The draft manifesto given to us has been placed before the stakeholders and are making changes to it. The CEC will discuss the issue. The state election committee will also meet and discuss. We will keep our national leadership informed before we release our election plan. We will release our second list after that.”
There will be clarity on seats after the central election committee meets. From Friday onwards, we will start our campaign by holding meetings of various committees, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. K. Laxman said, “Leaders and people are being attracted to the BJP as we are a party with value-based politics. BRS is trying to win elections by using money but the people will teach them a lesson. Tribal MLAs from Adilabad are being shamed and Rathod is a decent person. He has joined the BJP as he did not get due respect. This mirrors the highhandedness of the Kalvakuntla family.”
Bandi Sanjay, the party’s national general secretary, said, “It looks like KCR has decided to win the polls by worshipping gods. After waxing eloquent about the Kaleshwaram project all these days, he is now silent even as pillars have sunk in Medigadda. There are cracks in the Annaram barrage leaving the people worried. Why is K.T. Rama Rao not talking about this?”
People are increasingly backing the BJP and it looks like the Congress party is using N. Chandrababu Naidu to win polls in Telangana. This will be opposed by the people here, MLA Eatala Rajender said.
BJP national vice-president D.K. Aruna said, “Desertions are common during election time but the people are with the BJP.”
Rathod Baburao said, “I have been denied a ticket despite winning for the second time. Some people conspired against me. Many attempts to meet the Chief Minister proved futile.”
Those who joined the party include TPCC general secretary from Munugode Chalamala Krishna Reddy, Subhash Reddy from Yellareddy Assembly constituency, Dinesh Reddy and senior Congress leader Subhash Reddy, among others.
