Congress is slowly dying, all thanks to Jaipal Reddy: DK Aruna

Mahbubnagar: Expressing her discontent with the Congress party, DK. Aruna, the BJP MP candidate from Mahbubnagar Parliamentary constituency, in an exclusive interview with The Hans India, said that Congress was infested with internal fights and groupism and its leadership both at the State and Central levels have miserably failed in identifying the true workers of the party and favouring only those who lobby at New Delhi.

She said BJP was the only alternative both at the Centre and the State which can provide a safe, secure and stable government and at the same time speed up the development and bring a great name and fame to the country.

Excerpts from her interview follow:

Q. You had served Congress for the last 30 years and emerged as an informidable force in the party and served as Minister and other top posts in the Congress. What made you to take a sudden decision to jump into BJP?

A. Yes, I have been in Congress for the last 30 years and had served the party and worked hard for the growth of the party from grassroots. I had fought for the people of Gadwal to get RDS water, took part in Telangana agitation and brought name for the party in the last three decades. However, after the formation of Telangana, the Congress party in Telangana has been witnessing a slow death because of inefficient leadership. Groupism, intensive lobbying and failure of the State and Central leadership at the helm to identify efficient leaders and true workers are the major reasons for this slow death. Particularly in Mahbubnagar, Jaipal Reddy, senior leader is the main reason for the destruction of Congress in the district. He has done nothing for the district in the last 50 years. It is because of his interference with regard to allocation of tickets for MP and MLA candidates has severely hurt the sentiments of the local cadres and I felt it was no point in staying in a party which was ignoring to identify the hard work put in by trusted leaders and giving priority to those who have lost in the recent elections and had done nothing for the party.

Q. Were you not offered MP ticket from Congress party?

A. Yes, I was offered MP ticket to fight the Mahabubnagar LS seat, but I denied it and advised the State and Central leadership to offer tickets to those whom I supported. But they denied it and insisted me to contest. I said I would not fight MP elections and gently said no. I felt that they wanted to make me a scape goat and ruin my political career by letting me contest as Congress party MP candidate, because Congress party has already lost its base here in the district. So, I had my own plans and not accepted their proposal.

Q. Why did you jump into BJP? Do you think BJP has a good hold compared to Congress party in Mahbubnagar?

A. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is having quite a good hold in Mahbubnagar compared to the Congress. In fact, BJP is the only alternative which can give an effective opposition the TRS government in the State. I accepted MP ticket to contest as BJP candidate because people are favouring the Narendra Modi government and I am sure BJP will win with a thumping majority in the Lok Sabha elections and will form the next government at the Centre. I felt the prospects of BJP coming back to power are quite high and instead of staying in Congress and ruining my political career, I felt going to BJP would boost my career.

Q. You were a staunch Congress leader, now all of a sudden you have jumped into BJP, how are you being received by the BJP cadres at the ground level?

A. See, even though I was a Congress leader, I had maintained cordial relations with all the associations, leaders of various parties and groups and communities. So, I don't have the problem of not getting accepted. As am already popular and many admire me irrespective of the party I am in, I was welcomed by the BJP cadre. I am sure they will work hard and help in giving me a thumping victory form Mahbubnagar.

Q. What is your election strategy and how are you planning to campaign in a short span of 8 days?

A. Among all the contestants of Congress and TRS parties, I am the only candidate who is having quite a good recognition among the people. I am sure it is not at all a problem to take my candidature to the rural folks as already am well-known and vocal, which is my strength. Now only thing I am doing is visiting as many towns and villages as possible everyday and meeting the people and reviewing everyday strategy with the local cadres.

Q. Your thoughts about TRS and Congress candidates?

A. TRS candidate is a businessman who does not know anything about people's problems. He has no face in the public at all. They have brought him into TRS just because he has money and TRS president K Chandrashekar Rao feels he can do anything with money. But, people will definitely teach him a lession in these elections and you will see the outcome. Coming to Congress, the Kalwakurthy MLA contestant who had lost the recent elections is a weak one. He is fray just because he was recommended by Jaipal Reddy. I am sure Congress will lose miserably and you will see BJP emerging winner in the ensuring elections.