Rural backlash for Congress a slap on Revanth’s face: BRS

BRS leader Dasoju Sravan said the party’s wins in gram panchayat elections showed rural anger against the Congress government. He criticised the reported Rs 100 crore spend on the Messi event and accused the government of failing to fulfil its election promises

Hyderabad: Hailing the resilience shown by the BRS in securing 1,345 sarpanch positions despite heavy inducements by the Congress, BRS leader and MLC Dasoju Sravan warned the ruling party of major setbacks in the coming phases.

Addressing a news conference along with former GHMC corporator C Rakesh Kumar and Mahendra Yadav, he said rural voters had delivered a slap on Revanth Reddy’s face in local bodies. He said the BRS had defied all temptations and won 1,345 sarpanch posts, proving that the party cadre stood firm.

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He said the BRS made inroads in Congress strongholds by winning gram panchayats such as Polkampalli near the Chief Minister’s village of Kondareddypalli and Kondareddypalli in Minister Seethakka’s constituency. In Mahabubabad district, a sarpanch candidate who is a close relative of Congress MLA Murali Naik suffered a humiliating loss. Sravan attributed the anti-Congress wave to broken election promises, stating that voters rejected the government for failing to fulfil its promises.

Referring to what he called a Messi Jalsa at Uppal Stadium, the upcoming exhibition football match against global icon Lionel Messi, billed as Revanth Reddy 9 vs Lionel Messi 10 and set for December 13, the BRS leaders criticised the event as a personal fantasy funded by public money. They questioned the reported Rs 100 crore expenditure diverted from Singareni Collieries, a State-owned coal firm with central government stakes.

“Is it justified to dig up a cricket pitch for football in a stadium meant for cricket,” he asked.

“Fulfilment of election promises made to people lacks funds, but Revanth’s jalsa has crores?” Sravan asked.