ADILABAD: Giving a surprise to all, BRS Khanapur MLA Ajmeera Rekha Naik who was denied ticket by the party high command, and her husband Shyam Naik, are seeking Congress tickets for the Khanapur and Asifabad seats respectively.
The two submitted their requests to Congress soon after the BRS announced its candidates list. Shyam Naik joined the party on Monday night but Rekha Naik was yet to enter the Congress fold, informed sources said.
Shyam Naik went to Gandhi Bhavan to meet senior Congress leaders. He was accompanied by Asifabad DCC president Vishwa Prasad. Rekha was not present. The applications of Sham and Rekha were kept a secret but the news leaked later.
Rekha told the media that she would contest for the third time from the same constituency and alleged that the BRS leadership deceived her.
Hints are that Rekha Naik and her husband are expecting Congress tickets for the Khanapur and Asifabad seats.
Rekha alleged that someone hatched a conspiracy against her and she made an indirect reference to KTR. She said she had no friends at the party like Johnson Naik.
She said Johnson Naik, who was declared as party candidate by KCR a day ago, is not a local candidate and people will not vote for Johnson.
“Unlike other leaders, I never tried to show off with a convoy of 10 vehicles though I was MLA for 10 years from Khanapur. I just focused on the development of the constituency and its people.”
Rekha Naik said Bhukya Johnson Rathod, Naik’s forefather and the family had converted to Christianity. So, being a Christian, how can he come under the ST category, she asked.
She said Johnson Naik was a native of Thimmapur of Metpalli of Jagtial. I am collecting proofs to establish that Johnson Naik is not a tribal. I will invite the villagers of Thimmapur to Khanapur to expose his credentials,” she said.
She said Lambadas worshipped Sevalal Maharaj and eat the meat of goat that was sacrificed to gods and goddesses. She challenged Jonson Naik to eat the meat of a goat that was sacrificed to their gods if he really was a Lambada.
Rekha Naik refuted the allegations that she indulged in corruption in the implementation of the Dalit Bandhu and 2BHK schemes. “Such rumors were floated when a party doesn’t want to give the ticket. There is no truth in such allegations.”
