Suspended MLA Undavalli Sridevi to support Amaravati; vows to give return gift to YSRCP

HYDERABAD: Suspended MLA from Tadikonda Undavalli Sridevi on Sunday vehemently denied cross-voting in the recent MLC elections and expressed a threat to her life from the YSRCP goons. Addressing the media at her residence in Hyderabad, she expressed anguish that she was vilified for being a Dalit legislator and vowed to give a return gift soon to YS Jaganmohan Reddy and his YSRCP for giving her family the biggest shock of their life.

She said that she was labelled and treated like a mad dog in the party to eventually get rid of her. Claiming that she is now an independent MLA without any affiliation to any political party, Undavalli Sridevi extended her full support to the ‘Amaravati capital’ cause and promised to put her life at stake to fight for it.

While calling YS Jagan as a man good at heart and with values and ethics, she blamed the coterie around him for polluting his mind against her like ‘slow poison’. She particularly singled out YSRCP General Secretary and Government Advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy for the turn of events in her case. Claiming a threat to her life from Sajjala, she warned that he would be solely responsible if anything happened to her.

Undavalli Sridevi felt that her suspension was a part of a deep-rooted conspiracy by the YSRCP men to smoke her out of the party as she could never become their proxy in their illegal activities including indiscriminate sand-mining in the capital region. If this is the treatment meted out to a Dalit woman legislator, what will be the fate of ordinary people, she wondered.

On whether she had cross-voted in the MLC elections, Sridevi said, “Has anyone sat beneath the table when I was casting my vote in a secret ballot? Can they prove that I took money to vote against the YSRCP? I’m ready to swear on the Amaravati soil, and also in any temple including Kanipakam Ganapati temple to prove my innocence. I challenge the YSRCP men, can they do the same? MLC is a nominated post with moderate benefits. Can anyone offer huge amounts, as is being publicised in the media, for winning such a miniscule position?”

Alleging that there had been indiscriminate attacks on Dalits during the YSRCP rule, she said that she would petition the National SC Commission against the physical and social media attacks on her and her office.

“They used me for the last three years. They are plundering natural wealth by grabbing sand reaches. Who owns the sand reaches in Uddandarayunipalem? The YSRCP leaders feared that I would be a hindrance to their atrocities, so they started a campaign to displace me from Tadikonda. This plan started right from day one,” the suspended MLA said.

Vowing to fight for the Amaravati capital cause, Sridevi said that she campaigned in 2019 to assure everyone that Amaravati would remain as the state capital. But now she is feeling helpless with a constant internal churning on seeing the women of the capital region painstakingly carry out their relentless campaign. She alleged that Jagananna Colonies were a big scam and that thousands of crores of rupees were swindled under its guise.

The Tadikonda MLA said that she came into politics inspired by YS Rajasekhara Reddy and wondered if there were any values in the regime run by the late leader’s son. “My husband and I have two hospitals. I’m a successful gynecologist and one of the top 10 in Hyderabad. I took the political plunge at the request of Y S Jagan and my father Undavalli Subba Rao to serve the society on a bigger scale. But now, I realise that I was only under the illusion that I could serve better through politics than just in the medical field,” she said.

She said that she would fight for the Amaravati cause, even if it meant sacrificing her life for it.

On the question of her future course of action, Undavalli Sridevi said that she and her family were in a state of shock, having been betrayed by YS Jagan and the YSRCP after using her services for over four years. She vowed to give a return gift to her former party very soon. She however refused to be drawn into any political affiliations as yet. Stating that she is currently an independent MLA, she appealed to the media to not tag her with any political party.

While reiterating her solidarity with the Amaravati farmers, she appealed to the capital region women activists and the JAC members to approach her for any support.