Mekapati praises Swachh Bharat, denies joining BJP

- The YSRCP MP claims to be a ‘neutral’ politician and doesn’t mind appreciating schemes of other parties
- His son and MLA Gowtham Reddy pats Centre’s demonetisation move but feels bad for poor and middle-class people who are having a tough time

Nellore: Raising a few eyebrows, Nellore MP and YSR Congress senior leader Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy praised Swachh Bharat as an excellent programme and asked the officials to achieve 100 per cent targets in a stipulated time. He participated in District Development Review Committee meet here on Friday and asked the members to complete all rural development schemes of the Union government on time.

Mekapati, who claims to be a neutral political leader, said that he doesn’t mind appreciating welfare programmes of the other parties. Even though there were speculations that he was in touch with BJP leaders who have been wooing him to join the national party, but he recently denied plans to shift loyalties.

Giving credence to rumour-mongers, the MP made extempore comments appreciating the schemes of the Union government on Friday.

Adding to it, his son and Atmakur YSRCP MLA Mekapati Gowtham Reddy said the decision of the Union government banning high denomination currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 was reasonably acceptable, but lower and middle-class people were facing difficulties due to non-availability new notes. He asked officials to take measures to resolve their problems.

Further, there was discussion on lack of adequate burial grounds in rural areas and legislators expressed their views. Sullurpet MLA K Sanjeevaiah of YSR Congress party said many villages were having no separate grounds for SC population. MLC V Balasubrahmanyam, YSR Congress district convenor and Sarvepalli legislator Kakani Govardhan Reddy, and others spoke during the meet.

However, District Collector R Mutyala Raju said they had sanctioned 602 burial grounds for different villages. Senior officials were also present.