HYDERABAD: Senior Congress leader and former MP V. Hanumantha Rao, also known as VHR, on Thursday affirmed his support to the party's Munugode candidate Palvai Sravanthi and urged women in the constituency to give “woman a chance" by voting in the high-stakes byelection.
During his campaigning at Theretpally in Ghattuppal mandal, Hanumantha Rao, a four-term Rajya Sabha member and former state Congerss chief, stated that the lone woman who was running in the byelection against two men would be empathetic and sensitive to people's needs and bring about a positive change in the constituency.
Recalling how former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi had spearheaded the campaign for the women's reservation Bill in Parliament, Hanumantha Rao stated that once elected Sravanthi would speak for women. "For the first time in the constituency, a woman is competing against two men. The women voters must now ensure that she wins," he said in his appeal.
Interacting with the people, the former MP urged the electorate to cast their ballot for a better future rather than falling for money and liquor allegedly being offered by the TRS and BJP. While being critical of large amounts of money being spent by rival political parties in the byelection, he urged the Election Commission of India to firmly enforce the law.
Hanumantha Rao said that in his 50 years in politics, he had never witnessed an election in which money and alcohol had played such a significant part.
“I have never previously witnessed people being bought over in this manner. If the Election Commission is serious about conducting election in a free and fair manner, it should take steps to prevent the impact of money and alcohol on voters," he demanded.
Hanumantha Rao also outlined the shortcomings of the state and central governments during the last eight years and encouraged voters to support the Congress in order to further development and progress.
