Amaravati: No candidates for TDP, says Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy

Amaravati: Panchayat raj minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy said that the opposition TDP was finding it difficult to field candidates for the local body elections, while the YSRCP government was fast-tracking implementation of welfare schemes and was confident of a huge victory in the local body elections.

Speaking to media here on Friday, Ramachandra Reddy said TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu had been levelling false and baseless allegations that the TDP candidates were being attacked and prevented from filing nominations. "This is aimed at finding an excuse to the imminent defeat of the party in the local body elections. In reality, this is the first time in state history that elections are being conducted peacefully with stray incidents which is a common during elections. Naidu is unnecessarily creating a ruckus over the issue fearing humiliating loss in polls," he added.

The minister claimed that even the TDP leaders were hesitating to go and support their candidates in the elections as they were aware that people want Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy as Chief Minister for many years to come. TDP legislators and leaders like V Vamsi, Maddali Giri, Pothula Suneetha, Dokka Manikya Varaprasad, Rehman left the party as they had lost confidence in the leadership of Naidu, who now was searching for excuses to cover up his shortcomings, he said and added that Naidu with the support of a section of media was trying to create hype that all is well within his party while the reality was otherwise.

Ramachandra Reddy said the people had realised Naidu's true colours when he tried to block various bills such as English medium bill, reservation for BCs and separate commissions for SCs and STs. "Naidu, who claims to have 40 years of political experience, is behaving like a senseless person and uttering unparliamentary words against me and our Chief Minister," he said and added that the TDP chief was showing fake affection towards Dalits. He said if he was genuine in his commitment towards the upliftment of Dalits, he could have given chance to Varla Ramaiah as Rajya Sabha member earlier but ditched him. If it was a winning seat, Naidu would have fielded his son but he chose a Dalit member Varla Ramaiah as it was a losing seat, he added.