Adilabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday appealed to the Backward Classes communities (BCs) to unite to elect candidates from their communities whenever presented with such an opportunity in the upcoming state Assembly elections.
Remarking that he did not understand the lack of unity among SC, ST, BC and minorities communities, he appealed to them to show their political consciousness in the polls and elect members from their communities, given that a few get the chance to contest.
Addressing Praja Ashirvada Sabhas at Chennur, Manthani and Peddapalli on Tuesday, Rao cited instances of BC candidates suffering defeat in BC-heavy electorates.
Rao said that the people of Telangana were the BRS’ bosses, unlike other parties that had to get clearance from Delhi. “The BRS has concern for its people and works to fulfil the needs and aspirations of the people of the state,” he said.
The Chief Minister rapped the Congress for deciding ticket distribution from Delhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for privatising various sectors, including coal mining, railways, airports and shipping. He said the BRS fought the Centre, which allegedly attempted to privatise two mines of the Singareni Collieries.
Continuing his theme of Singerni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) at Mandamarri, Rao said the government generated jobs through the company.
“It is high time for the people to compare the BRS, its commitments and policies with that of Congress and BJP before voting. Give serious thought to voting and discuss it in your villages since it will decide your future for five years,” he said.
He also appealed to the people to go by the history and ideologies of political parties, as it “was the BRS which achieved Telangana state and worked to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Telangana.”
Referring to Gaddam Vivek, who joined the Congress to contest from Chennur, Rao said some leaders “removed one mask and wore another one” and “changed parties four times and came to Chennur with money suitcases”. He called on the people to reject such leaders and elect Balka Sauman, who had no money and played an active role in the Telangana agitation.
The Chief Minister also referred to Congress candidate Premsagar Rao and his ‘Pakata Club’ in Hyderabad and how he amassed money illegally.
Delving into policies, he criticised the Congress and its leaders Revanth Reddy, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Uttam Kumar Reddy for opposing the Dharani portal and Rythu Bandhu. He also cited Revanth Reddy’s recommendation for only a three-hour power supply to farmers.
Invoking the Telangana sentiment, he said it was the Congress that merged Telangana with Andhra in the past and humiliated the people of Telangana.
Rao reeled out various welfare measures of the BRS for SCCL, including bonus hikes, issuance of pattas to houses in the Singareni area, creation of new jobs and restoration of dependent jobs.
“It is the Congress, which defeated B.R. Ambedkar in the Parliament elections in the past, and did not carry forward his aspirations,” he said, asking Suman to distribute books to create awareness among the people.
“But the BRS installed a gigantic Ambedkar 125-foot statue and a new Secretariat named after him, showing commitment to fulfilling Ambedkar’s aspiration,” he said.
Labelling the Congress a “dhokhebaaz party (alliance of cheaters)”, he said that it granted statehood only after all its attempts to sabotage protests, including multiple deaths and arrests, failed to quell their spirits.
“It is the responsibility of Telangana to fight against the old systems. Even Rahul Gandhi was opposing the Dharani portal and Rythu Bandhu, although he had no idea about cattle and agriculture,” Rao said.
He said that the Congress was selling tickets to candidates and that a dozen leaders for fighting to be its Chief Ministerial face.
On the day, Congress leaders Boda Janardhan and Dr Raja Ramesh, YSRT’s S. Nagesh and BJP’s Patti Srinivas joined the party in Rao’s presence.
At Manthani, he questioned why Putta Madhu, despite being a strong BC community leader was defeated in the last elections, claiming marginalised sections were being cheated by other leaders in the absence of such a leader. He said that local leaders, and not those staying in Hyderabad, can serve the people better.
