• TPCC Chief, Minister Jupally, Shabbir Ali addresses graduate voters meeting in Kamareddy

Kamareddy, February 19: Senior Congress leaders have called upon graduate voters to support Congress MLC candidate V Narender Reddy in the upcoming elections, asserting that he will stand by them and address their concerns effectively.

Addressing a gathering of Graduate MLC voters at Satya Convention Hall in Kamareddy, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, Excise and Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir, MP Suresh Shetkar, MLAs Lakshmi Kantha Rao and Madan Mohan Rao emphasised the need to elect a strong and committed representative.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohammed Ali Shabbir highlighted that the Congress government was formed due to the struggles of unemployed youth. He said the upcoming elections were a direct battle between the Congress and the BJP, stressing that only the Congress had taken steps to create employment opportunities. He accused the previous BRS government of failing to provide even 50,000 jobs in a decade, while the Congress, within nine months of assuming power, had already created 56,000 jobs. He assured that the fee reimbursement scheme would be implemented soon to support students. He criticised the BJP-led central government for neglecting Telangana, stating that the Union Budget had allocated zero funds for the state, and urged graduates to choose a candidate who would fight for their rights.

Minister Jupally Krishna Rao emphasised Narender Reddy’s long-standing experience in the education sector, stating that he was the most suitable candidate to represent graduate voters. He reminded the gathering that Congress had taken the bold decision to grant Telangana statehood, even though it caused political losses in Andhra Pradesh. He criticised the BJP for creating three new states in the past but deliberately ignoring Telangana’s demand. He accused the Centre of favouring Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh in budget allocations while sidelining Telangana, proving that BJP had no real commitment to the state’s development. He also alleged that the BRS had made a secret agreement with the BJP, which was evident from its decision not to contest the MLC elections, indirectly helping the BJP.

TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud criticised both the BJP and BRS for misleading the public. He said that the BRS had ruined employment opportunities in the state and transformed the idea of “Bangaru Telangana” into a family-driven political system. He pointed out that the BRS government provided only 50,000 jobs in ten years, while the Congress had already filled 56,000 vacancies within nine months. He assured that the Congress government would fill all remaining government vacancies. He accused the BJP of deceiving the country’s youth by promising two crore jobs per year but failing to deliver. He also alleged that BRS and BJP had a secret alliance for ten years, evident when BRS helped BJP win eight MLA seats.

He criticised the BRS government’s financial mismanagement, stating that while 16 previous Chief Ministers together had borrowed Rs 65,000 crore, KCR’s government alone had taken loans of Rs 7.5 lakh crore in a decade. He said the Congress government was now paying Rs 6,500 crore per month as interest alone due to BRS’s reckless borrowing. He also criticized the BRS for not properly distributing the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, while the Congress government had resumed it after taking office.

He pointed out that in this MLC constituency, the BJP had four MPs and one Union Minister, yet they failed to secure any funds for Telangana. He called upon graduate voters to question these BJP leaders for their failure. He reiterated that Congress was the only party committed to the welfare of backward classes, highlighting that it had appointed a BC leader as TPCC president and conducted a caste survey. He announced that Congress would ensure 42% reservation for BCs in local bodies and introduce laws to protect their employment opportunities.

Mahesh Kumar Goud reaffirmed Congress’s commitment to healthcare and education, stating that the government would provide quality medical services from Primary Health Centers (PHCs) to NIMS hospitals. He also announced plans to establish 57 Integrated Model Schools across Telangana to ensure corporate-level education for students in every constituency.

He cautioned the public against believing BRS’s misinformation campaigns on social media, accusing the former ruling party of using unethical tactics to mislead the people. He also criticised the BJP for exploiting religious sentiments for electoral gains, stating that in 2014, 2019, and now in 2024, the BJP was using Lord Ram’s name for political benefits. He urged graduate voters to make informed decisions based on governance and accountability rather than falling for religious propaganda.

The Congress leaders appealed to voters to elect Narender Reddy as the MLC, assuring that he would be their strongest advocate in addressing their grievances and fighting for their rights. (eom)