Chandrababu’s derision of ‘tipper driver’ on YSRCP Singanamala candidate evokes sharp repartee from YS Jagan

KURNOOL: Derisive remarks on a “tipper driver” by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu have evoked a sharp reaction from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and a widespread criticism from YSR Congress leaders and cadres.

There is a little background to the entire episode that has landed Chandrababu Naidu in an embarrassing situation.

YSR Congress has replaced sitting MLA from Singanamala (SC reserved) constituency in Anantapur district with Veeranjaneyulu, who ekes out his living as a tipper driver. His entire family are wage earners.

Addressing a public meeting at Singanamala on Friday, Chandrababu Naidu remarked: “Instead of giving the seat to MLAs husband or MLA Padmavathi herself, the MLA ticket was given to their tipper driver.” Then he went on to say with a sarcastic tone, “the tipper driver was put up. You (in an obvious reference to Y S Jagan) are a great man. Sabhash, you should definitely be complimented.”

While these remarks evoked whistles and cheers from TDP supporters, the poking of fun against the YSRCP MLA candidate did not go down well with the ruling party.

The Chief Minister gave a repartee at a public meeting in Nandyal the same evening. Jagan said: “Chandrababu Naidu passed disdainful remarks saying that YSR Congress has fielded a tipper driver – a lorry driver – from Singanamala. What’s wrong in it? Veeranjaneyulu may have been a tipper driver. But he is more qualified than Chandrababu Naidu. Veeranjaneyulu did his MA in Economics and B.Ed also. With such big qualifications too, Veeranjaneylu had to become a tipper driver as he could not get a job under the regime of Chdndrababu Naidu.

As a tripper driver he is taking care of his family and became self-reliant. If Veeranjaneyulu could not get a job with all his big qualifications and turned out to be a tipper driver under Chandrababu Naidu regime, your son Jagan made the same Veeranjaneyulu as an MLA candidate. That is the concern we have for the people.”

Addressing the "Memantha Siddham" public gathering in Yerraguntla in Kurnool District, the Chief Minister said: "Our YSRC party has consistently been a pillar of support for the poor. This election, we've given the ticket to a candidate hailing from an economically poor background. I pose this question: Chandrababu Naidu, what troubles you if there is empowerment of the poor in politics. It's disheartening that individuals like Veeranjaneyulu are belittled merely for their economic status, insinuating that they lack the financial means to contest as an MLA candidate.”

Jagan asserted that out of the total 200 seats in the Assembly and LokSabha, 100 seats were allocated to SC/ST/BC and minority communities.