Hyderabad: TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy dedicated the Congress’ victory to Telangana martyrs and assured to revive democracy in the state by opening the gates of the Secretariat and Pragathi Bhavan to the common people. He also announced that Pragathi Bhavan would be renamed ‘Dr BR Ambedkar Praja Bhavan’.
Addressing a press conference in Gandhi Bhavan on Sunday after the victory in the Assembly polls, Revanth Reddy said: “This time, we have got the mandate to take forward the ideals of the martyrs of Telangana. We will make sure to deliver all the promises. I thank the high command on behalf of Telangana Congress. People of Telangana know how and when to respond.”
Sharing that outgoing minister K.T. Rama Rao congratulated him, Reddy appealed to the Opposition and other parties to cooperate in forming the government.
“KTR welcomed Congress government. This spirit should continue when we (Congress) run the government. For 10 years, you (BRS) were in power and now, you will sit in the Opposition. We value the opinion of the Opposition,” he said, in an apparent public response to Rama Rao.
Assuring that the Congress government would keep its promise of Six Guarantees and those made by Rahul Gandhi, he thanked the Gandhi scion for lending moral support during problems. He also cited Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra for the party’s breakthrough in the state.
Invoking the death of Srikantha Chary, a Telangana youth, during the statehood struggle on December 3, 2009, Revanth said the win was especially dedicated to him.
Revanth said that he would use the win to develop Telangana and help the poor, adding that he, along with CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Shabbir Ali would take the TPCC forward. He also thanked actress Vijayashanthi, who joined the Congress from the BJP ahead of the polls, for playing a role in the party’s success.
Saying that “people have decided who should be in Opposition”, Revanth Reddy said that the “perseverance of 30 lakh unemployed youth was evident in Congress’ win.”
Heaping special praise on AICC Telangana incharge Manikrao Thakre for coordinating the internal affairs of the TPCC, Revanth Reddy said: “We will move forward with CPI and TJS. Rahul gave us the spirit through Bharat Jodo Yatra and Congress achieved the victory with the cooperation of all senior leaders.”
“Apart from our natural allies, the CPI, which contested the elections with us, we will also consider the CPM, which did not contest the elections. We will accept suggestions and advice from Telangana Jana Samithi president Professor Kodandaram, who gave his full cooperation,” Revanth Reddy said.
In a message to the outgoing BRS, he said: “People gave a clear verdict and decided the role of the other parties, even in the Opposition. Taking the mandate of the people as a message, we expect full cooperation from the BRS in forming the government. We want the BRS to come together to restore the traditional and democratic values of Telangana state. We hope that attempts made to damage democracy in the past will not happen again.”
