Mandula Samuel steps up attack on Komatireddy brothers as Congress row deepens

Tungaturthy MLA Mandula Samuel sharpened his attack on Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, insisting that Assembly tickets are decided solely by the Congress high command. Samuel also criticised Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy for ignoring his constituency requests.

Hyderabad: The war of words between Tungaturthy MLA Mandula Samuel and the Komatireddy brothers showed no signs of ending, with the MLA continuing his attack on Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy on Saturday.

Samuel said he had won the election with a bumper majority thanks to people’s support and that Rajgopal Reddy had no role in his victory. He also asserted that Assembly tickets were decided by the party high command. “Neither I nor Rajgopal Reddy decide who gets a ticket. The high command gives tickets to candidates who can win, not based on anyone’s recommendation,” he told reporters.

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Responding to Rajgopal Reddy’s remarks that his supporters were unhappy with Samuel’s victory, the Tungaturthy MLA said, “My supporters are also unhappy with Rajgopal Reddy’s victory in Munugode. That is why I told him not to interfere in the affairs of other constituencies.”

Samuel also criticised Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy. “The Minister visited my constituency on Friday, but I was not informed about the programme. I have requested him nearly 100 times to sanction a two-km road. He inspected the same road but did not speak to me,” he said.

He urged the Komatireddy brothers to end the controversy in the interest of the Congress party. Samuel also said neither the Chief Minister nor any senior State Congress leader had spoken to him on the issue so far.

Jagga Reddy delays report

Meanwhile, TPCC working president T Jagga Reddy has postponed submitting his report on the clash between supporters of Mandula Samuel and Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Jagga Reddy, who was appointed as the party observer after last week’s incident, was expected to submit his seven-page report to TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud on Saturday. However, following the fresh exchange of remarks between Samuel and Rajgopal Reddy, he deferred the submission.