Hyderabad: Positioning the Feb 11 municipal elections as a direct verdict on both the
BJP at the Centre and the BRS in the state, chief minister A
Revanth Reddy on Monday said the civic polls had effectively turned into a triangular contest between the Congress, BRS and BJP, and urged urban voters to deliver a ‘massive urban mandate' in favour of the Congress across seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities.
Addressing a media conference at his residence, Revanth cautioned voters against being swayed by what he described as ‘small emotional issues' and called on them to judge the competing parties by their record in power.
"Neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao did anything significant for Telangana and its people since 2014. Think and analyse the 12 years of BJP govt at the Centre and 10 years of KCR-led BRS govt in the state before casting your vote. There is a quid pro quo arrangement between BRS and BJP," Revanth alleged.
Master plans for ULBs
Projecting the Congress as a first-time claimant for an urban mandate after coming to power, the CM said his govt had moved swiftly on welfare and development in just two years. "In just two years, the Congress has implemented numerous welfare schemes and taken up development works. I assure you that comprehensive master plans for each ULB will be brought. It is my responsibility, as the CM and municipal administration minister, to extend drinking water supply, lay sewerage networks, provide uninterrupted electricity supply, and build roads. Bless the Congress whole-heartedly in the municipal elections," he said.
Questioning the credibility of the opposition parties, Revanth said both the BJP and the BRS had no moral right to seek votes after years in power. "How can the BJP and BRS even ask for votes promising to solve your problems when they were in power all these years. All the problems in municipalities and corporations are due to the two parties. The BRS has no right to ask for votes as they were in ruling ULBs until two years ago," he said.
He said the Congress was seeking a mandate for the first time since forming the govt and highlighted the party's social representation in candidate selection. "The Congress gave 61 per cent B-forms to BC community candidates. It is our duty to ask the Centre to fund key projects and if they don't support, the state govt will complete key civic, transport and other infrastructure projects in the urban local bodies, including GHMC limits," Revanth said.
Targets PM Modi
Taking aim at the BJP's campaign, the CM questioned what Telangana had gained from the party's leadership at the Centre. "What is the special package or additional funds Union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay have brought for Telangana? Did PM Modi give any special package or national status to any project in Telangana? Maharashtra CM (Devendra) Fadnavis and BJP national president (Nitin) Nabin campaigned in Telangana but did not announce anything for the state," he said.
"So, how can the BJP top leaders seek votes in municipal elections in the name of Modi? Why should urban voters trust them when their 12-year history is in front of them?" he asked.
Revanth also accused the Centre of discriminating against southern states in fund allocation. "Kishan Reddy says lakhs of crores have been given to Telangana by the Centre. What the Centre has given is devolution of taxes which Telangana pays to it. Injustice has been done to Telangana," he said.
Raw deal to T'gana
He cited comparative figures to underline his allegation. "For every rupee given to the Centre, only 42 paise is being given back to Telangana. The Centre was giving back 16 paise to Karnataka, 26 paise to Tamil Nadu and 49 paise to Kerala. It is a grave injustice to the southern states. In the northern states, Bihar is being given over Rs 6 rupee for every rupee it is paying to the Centre, while Madhya Pradesh gets Rs 2.09 and Uttar Pradesh Rs 2.90."
"Has Kishan Reddy or Bandi Sanjay ever questioned PM Modi, Centre, or NITI Aayog about this discrimination? They have mortgaged the self-respect of Telangana in Delhi. The BJP govt has not given anything to Telangana through its discretionary powers," he alleged.
Linking the issue to corruption probes, Revanth said: "Due to the quid pro quo arrangement between the BRS and BJP, Kishan Reddy is not allowing the arrest of KCR and Harish Rao (former BRS minister) in the Kaleshwaram scam, and that of KT Rama Rao (BRS working president) in the Formula E case."
Having 30 years of experience, Roushan Ali is covering the govt, ...
Read MoreHaving 30 years of experience, Roushan Ali is covering the govt, chief minister's office and politics as a senior assistant editor of The Times of India. During the three decades of journalism career he had initially covered important citizen-centric and infrastructure beats like urban development, water and electricity supply, traffic and transport, cantonment, education, welfare and rural development.
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