HYDERABAD: In an expected setback to the poll prospects of Congress, star campaigner MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Monday made it clear that he will not campaign in the Munugode bypoll against his younger brother Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy who is now the BJP candidate after quitting as Congress MLA.
Venkat Reddy is the MP from Bhuvanagiri under which Munugode assembly segment falls. He was named as a star campaigner by the AICC in April but has been staying away from campaigning in Munugode. Though there is also speculation that even Venkat Reddy may join BJP sooner or later, he has so far denied it saying he would never quit Congress.
The Komatireddy family enjoys considerable support in Munugode and Venkat Reddy’s presence alone in the campaign would have been a big boost for Congress candidate Palvai Sravanthi. His absence is set to dent the party’s poll chances.
“There is no need for a home guard like me to campaign. Only SP-level leaders will campaign and ensure victory,” he said in a dig at TPCC chief A Revanth Reddy after casting his vote at Gandhi Bhavan for AICC president’s election.
Pointing out that a leader had said he would bring the party to power even if 100 cases are booked against him, he said, “Let that leader go there and campaign. I am an ordinary worker of party.”
While refusing to name Revanth, Venkat Reddy said: “You media persons should know who had made such comments.”
His comments were in reference to Revanth’s earlier remarks. After he was appointed as TPCC chief ignoring claims of several senior Congress leaders, Revanth had said that SPs are appointed directly and home guards cannot be made SPs despite working for several years. His comment had not gone down well with seniors who had then complained to the party high command.