CM Revanth Reddy warns of welfare rollback if BRS wins Jubilee Hills bypoll

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy stirred a political debate by declaring that key welfare schemes, including free rice, power, and bus travel, would be withdrawn if BRS won the Jubilee Hills by-election. Addressing voters in Vengalrao Nagar, he accused BRS of opposing women’s welfare and instigating auto drivers.

Hyderabad: Taking political circles by surprise, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said if Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) won the Jubilee Hills by-election, then fine rice supply through fair price shops, 200 units free power, free bus travel scheme for women and ration cards schemes would be cancelled.

The BRS is opposed to free bus travel for women. It is deliberately instigating auto drivers against the Congress government, he said at a corner meeting in Vengalrao Nagar division in the constituency on Friday.

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“The BRS is raking up sentiment but Jubilee Hills needs development. Elect Naveen Yadav, I will show what development is and how it is achieved,” Revanth Reddy assured.

He slammed that sitting MLA late Gopinath failed to ensure Jubilee Hills development despite being elected for three terms.

“Did late Maganti Gopinath approach us for any development work or did he raise Vengalraonagar residents’ issues in the Assembly?” he asked.

The Chief Minister said during the last two months, when a few Ministers brought some issues to the government’s notice, hundreds of crores were sanctioned immediately. “Should those development works stop abruptly?” he asked the people.

The Chief Minister said wins and losses were part of politics. “Opportunities do not always strike at your doors but when they strike, one has to grab with both hands. If we fail to ensure the victory of a local boy, it will remain as a historic mistake,” Revanth Reddy maintained.

During Secunderabad Cantonment by-election also the BRS tried to rake up the sentiment and wanted to win the elections. But people believed in the Congress and aspired for development and elected Sriganesh.

The Chief Minister recalled that in 2007, when former CLP leader P Janardhan Reddy had passed away due to cardiac arrest, TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu had extended support for a unanimous election.

But the BRS party fielded its candidate. The party sidelined the tradition of supporting the unanimous election of a deceased MLA’s family member, he charged.

He came down heavily on the BJP and accused Union Minister G Kishan Reddy of obstructing Metro expansion, River Musi project and Hyderabad’s progress.

“The BJP and BRS nexus is like a fevicol joint. During parliament elections, the BRS helped BJP win eight MP seats. Did Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay get any funds or projects for Telangana,” he asked.

Despite the complaints of poll code violation, the Chief Minister again assured film workers that it was his responsibility to extend quality education to their children.

“It is also my duty to install former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao’s statue at Ameerpet. I will unveil the statue as Telangana Chief Minister,” Revanth Reddy promised, asking the Ayyappa devotees in a temple to bless Congress candidate Naveen Yadav.