Ready for polls sans alliance: Ministers

Tirupati: Supporting Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s comments on alliance with BJP, his Cabinet colleagues Ganta Sreenivasa Rao and P Narayana said they were adopting restraint according to ‘mitra dharma’ despite provocative comments by some BJP leaders. Speaking to the media here on Sunday, they said, “What the Chief Minister has said was correct.

We still are restraining ourselves from making any comments because of ‘mitra dharma’. If the BJP central leadership make any comments adversely on our party, then we will also counter it”. They added that the TDP was ready to go for 2019 polls alone without any alliances. They predicted that YSRCP, which literally ran away from Assembly without discussing any people’s issues, will lose its opposition party status also in the next elections . 

Earlier, while participating as the chief guests in a meeting organised by Balija Abhyudaya Seva Samiti (BASS), the two ministers said that it was the TDP government that was standing by Balija, Kapu, Ontari and Telaga communities and taking all steps for their development. 

“People of these communities faced various problems during all these years with so many ups and downs. If one government recognises them as BCs the other government did not do so. It is only Chandrababu Naidu who took steps sincerely by appointing a committee and based on its recommendations, has decided to give five per cent reservations to these communities which is in Parliament now,” they said. They underlined the importance of education to the children of these communities, which will help them prosper in all fields, including politics.

Speaking on the occasion, Tirupati MLA M Suguna said that the Chief Minister was always thinking of the upliftment of these communities and was implementing various schemes, which no other Chief Minister or government ever thought of. BASS general secretary Vooka Vijaya Kumar, who was instrumental in organising the meeting, said it was the TDP government which gave 1.5 acre valuable land in the heart of the city to BASS and decided to build a function hall, hostel for the students of these communities, training centre for various competitive examinations and a skill centre at a cost of Rs.5 crore. BASS president Suresh Babu, Kapu Corporation chairman C Ramanujaya, ex-MLA A Mohan, Kola Anand, Dr R Premanand, Dr Aasa Latha among others participated.