KTR urges youth to reject BJP, Congress in MLC by-elections

BHUVANAGIRI: BRS Working President K. Taraka Rama Rao accused the BJP and Congress of betraying the youth, urging them to teach both parties a lesson in the upcoming MLC by-elections.

He addressed a meeting in Bhuvanagiri on Sunday as part of the campaign for by-elections for the Khammam-Nalgonda-Warangal Graduate Constituency of the Telangana Legislative Council, supporting BRS candidate Rakesh Reddy.

KTR criticised the BJP government at the Centre for failing to deliver on its promises over the past decade. He cited unfulfilled commitments, including creating two crore jobs annually and initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, and Stand Up India. "Not a single promise has been fulfilled," he stated.

KTR said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to double farmers' income by 2022 and asked whether any farmer had seen his income doubled. He dismissed the BJP's focus on temple construction as its sole achievement, contrasting it with the BRS's efforts under KCR, which included building the Yadadri Temple and modern infrastructures like reservoirs named after gods. "Unlike BJP, BRS will never seek votes in the name of religion," he asserted.

Reflecting on the BRS's decade-long governance, KTR highlighted significant developments in Nalgonda district, such as resolving issues related to safe drinking water, fluorosis, and irrigation. He noted the addition of three medical colleges and the establishment of the Yadadri Power Plant. Despite these achievements, the BRS lost 11 out of 12 seats in Nalgonda in the last assembly elections, a defeat he attributed to the party's failure to effectively communicate its accomplishments and the unintentional alienation of some communities.

KTR criticised the opposition for spreading false propaganda through mainstream and social media, calling for rectification of past mistakes and better public awareness of the BRS's achievements.

He also took aim at Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, accusing him of failing to deliver on promises such as waiving crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh by December 9, 2023, and providing financial assistance to farm laborers and tenant farmers. He pointed out that the Congress government had not fulfilled even one of its guarantees in full. He said nearly 1.67 crore women were still awaiting monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 under the Mahalaxmi scheme.

KTR said the Congress government had promised to create 2 lakh jobs and claimed it had already provided 30,000. However, he stated that these jobs were actually filled by the previous KCR government. The entire recruitment process was completed during the BRS regime. The current Congress government is merely distributing the appointment letters. "Did the Congress government issue any new job notifications? Did it release a job calendar? Yet, Congress shamelessly claims it filled 30,000 vacancies. This is like calling others' children our own," KTR remarked.

KTR said Revanth Reddy had opposed the BRS's plan to conduct the DSC exam for 5,000 posts, promising instead a Mega DSC with 50,000 posts to be approved in the first cabinet meeting. However, by adding just 5,000 jobs to the already notified posts, the Congress government called it a Mega DSC. Similarly, while Congress promised to conduct entrance exams without fees, KTR said they increased the fee tenfold to Rs 2,000.

He accused Congress leaders of making false promises before elections and reneging on them afterward. "This is the way of Congress," he said.

KTR expressed confidence that Rakesh Reddy would win the Graduate MLC elections with a large majority. He noted that there were nearly 13,000 graduate voters in Bhuvanagiri and emphasised the importance of thorough campaigning due to the vast scope of the graduate constituency. "Let us all strive as if we are the candidates. One needs to look not only at the party but also at the candidate's qualities," he urged.

"The BRS has fielded an educated candidate, Rakesh Reddy, who studied at BITS Pilani and came from a humble farmer's family. Despite the potential to earn crores in America, Rakesh Reddy returned to India for public service. In contrast, the Congress candidate is a blackmailer," KTR said.

He urged graduates to vote thoughtfully and give Rakesh Reddy their first priority vote in the elections scheduled for May 27. He also called on the party cadre to intensify their efforts in the final week of campaigning.