AP Minister Roja says she will remain loyal to Jagan, Assembly ticket or not

TIRUMALA: Andhra Pradesh Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement RK Roja has reaffirmed her commitment to support Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy even if she was denied a ticket in the 2024 Assembly elections.

Roja on Tuesday offered special prayers at Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala. Speaking to media, she lashed out at the opposition and a section of the media for getting gratification by spreading falsehood against her that she would not get a ticket in the next Assembly elections.

“I am one of the MLAs who will be in the forefront in the Government programmes. I am a soldier to YS Jagan and even ready to sacrifice my life for him. I will stay with YS Jagan even if he denies a ticket to me and become a part of achieving the target ‘Why Not 175’ set by the Chief Minister,” Roja said.

On contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections, Roja said that she would contest in the next election, but would strictly abide by the suggestions of the Chief Minister. “I offered special prayers to Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy to once again bless YS Jagan as Chief Minister for Andhra Pradesh,” she said.

Taking potshots at opposition parties and a section of media, Roja said that the opposition parties were not having candidates to contest in all the 175 Assembly constituencies in the State. Even TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan were relying on survey reports to finalise their constituencies for contesting, she ridiculed.