Congress MLC Teenmaar Mallanna says Revanth Reddy weakening Congress to benefit BJP
MLC Chinthapandu Naveen, alias Teenmaar Mallanna, claimed that Revanth Reddy orchestrated his suspension to suppress voices questioning his leadership and alleged anti-BC policies.
Hyderabad: Suspended Congress MLC Chinthapandu Naveen, alias Teenmaar Mallanna, on Tuesday said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was systematically undermining the Congress and siding with the BJP. He claimed that Revanth Reddy orchestrated his suspension to suppress voices questioning his leadership and alleged anti-BC policies.
For the first time after his suspension, Mallanna spoke to mediapersons at Press Club of Hyderabad on Wednesday where he targeted Revanth Reddy, stating that the latter was working to weaken Congress and had helped BJP secure victories in Malkajgiri, Chevella and Mahabubnagar parliamentary constituencies. He said Revanth Reddy pressured TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud to suspend him from the party.
“Revanth Reddy committed a huge mistake by getting me suspended and he will pay for it dearly,” he said.
The former Congress leader accused the Chief Minister of sidelining BC leaders and manipulating the caste census to protect the Economically Weaker Sectrions (EWS) quota for the benefit of the forward castes. He reminded that the caste census by the Congress government did not receive as much response as the Comprehensive Household Survey conducted by the BRS government in 2014 where even those living abroad came home to register their details.
“If the caste census was conducted properly, why did the government order a re-survey? The entire process is flawed, and I challenge the Chief Minister for debate on this issue anywhere,” he said. He claimed that many Congress leaders including Ministers did not participate in the caste census.
Mallanna alleged that Congress’s victory in Telangana was due to his relentless fight against the previous BRS government. “Congress won 42 out of 45 seats where I campaigned. Revanth Reddy may not like it, but in 2028, a BC leader will become the Chief Minister of Telangana,” he declared, stating that the Chief Minister was favouring a select group of Reddy leaders while neglecting BC interests.
The suspended Congress MLC also criticised the Congress government for neglecting BCs even 15 months after coming to power. “Reddys have taken control of corporations, while genuine Congress workers remain ignored,” he said. He stated that senior BC leaders like V Hanumanth Rao and Anjan Kumar Yadav too were not being allowed to speak their mind.
