Congress losing in MLC polls will be people’s loss, says Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
Revanth Reddy says MLC polls not a referendum on Congress government
NIZAMABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy appears to have already thrown in the towel much ahead of the MLC elections, with his statement in Nizamabad on Monday that Congress candidate Narender Reddy’s loss in the poll would not affect his government indicating that he did not have much hopes of a positive outcome from the February 27 poll.
Speaking at the party’s MLC poll campaign meeting in Nizamabad, Revanth Reddy dismissed the opposition’s rhetoric that the MLC elections would be a referendum on the performance of the Congress government and claimed that the poll was not a referendum. At the same time, as if he was not sure of Narender Reddy’s prospects in the election, he said a loss would not affect the government at all.
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“Irrespective of whether Congress candidate Narender Reddy wins or loses, the Congress government will not suffer any loss. But if he loses, there will be no person to raise your issues,” Revanth Reddy said while addressing a public meeting here on Monday.
The statement took many in the Congress itself by surprise, with the party already facing a serious situation with a severe backlash from within the party over the caste survey. Internal caste politics is blowing like never before in the Telangana unit of the Congress, with BC leaders openly opposing the caste survey and expressing their views on caste equations in the party.
This has made the State leadership anxious over the impact of the issue on the party’s prospects in the MLC Graduates Constituency elections, more so because the party wanted to use the caste survey, especially the assurance to implement 42 per cent reservations to BCs, as its trump card in the MLC election campaign. However, the plans appear to have boomeranged as leaders are raising objections over the caste survey, besides questioning the party’s commitment to extend reservations.
It may be recalled that Congress MLC Teenmaar Mallanna dubbed the caste census as a fake survey. He had even burnt Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s statement copy on the caste census, besides making controversial comments against the Reddy community. Irked over his comments, the Reddy Jagruthi Samithi demanded action from Congress against the MLC. Accordingly, the TPCC Disciplinary Committee served a showcause notice to him.
All these developments have not gone well with the BC community. Party sources said the community was rallying behind Mallanna and insisting on a rightful share for them. A few even admitted that already BCs in a few constituencies had decided to work against the party.
The Congress has fielded Narender Reddy for the MLC Graduates constituency – Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad and Medak. It is also the sitting seat for the Congress as it was represented by T Jeevan Reddy in the Council. The party has not fielded a candidate for the MLC Teachers Constituency – Nalgonda, Warangal and Khammam and MLC Teachers Constituency – Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Medak.
Sensing trouble, the Chief Minister held a meeting with BC leaders in the city on Saturday and sought the support of BC leaders in taking the caste survey outcome to the people and to win their confidence. In sharp contrast, TPCC working president Anjan Kumar Yadav on Monday said a few people within the party were making all attempts to suppress Yadav community leaders. He even warned that if the Yadav community was not given due recognition and accorded priority, the leaders would not tolerate it. All these appear to have triggered Revanth Reddy’s comment on a possible loss for Narender Reddy in the polls.
No bypolls, asserts Revanth
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday brushed aside statements from BRS leaders that bypolls were inevitable in the wake of the case against turncoat MLAs being heard in the Supreme Court. However, his statement appeared to be sub-judice, since he jumped the gun by saying indirectly that there would be no disqualification of any turncoat MLA, even when the apex court was yet to deliver its verdict.
Alleging that the BRS had also poached many elected public representatives from 2014 to 2023, he asked why would there be by-polls when they were not held in similar situations in the past. “Were any by-elections held in the past? There was a Speaker and there were courts as well at that time too. Now also, there is a Speaker and there are the courts too. Why will there be by-elections now?” he asked.
