Sparks fly as Uttam, KTR continue wordy duel

KTR is a bachha in politics, I don’t have to react. Had it been CM, I would have taken the challenge -Uttam

I am ready to quit the minister post if the Congress humbles the ruling party at the hustings -KTR

Khammam: Even as the mercury levels have come down significantly due to rains across the state, sparks continue to fly all over the Palair Assembly constituency ahead of the May 16 bypoll with the TRS and Congress sniping at each other.

Though the ruling TRS had dealt a huge blow to the Congress this week by adding the YSR Congress leaders and cadres to its fold, the Congress appears not cowed down by the development with its leaders putting a brave front in jibing back to their counterparts.

“I am ready to quit the minister post if the Congress humbles the ruling party at the hustings,” IT Minister KTR, who is spearheading the campaign for the TRS nominee Tummala Nageshwar Rao, told the newspersons on Sunday, daring the TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy to relinquish his post if the Congress candidate Ramreddy Sucharitha loses the Palair bypoll battle.

Further, KTR pooh poohed at the Congress for fielding Sucharitha, widow of Ramreddy Venkat Reddy, and making her roam all over the constituency in the hot summer. “If the Congress has so much concern towards Venkat Reddy’s family, why don’t they send her to the Legislative Council,” he questioned, stating that the Congress has no moral right to talk about ethics in politics.

Retorting to KTR’s challenge, the TPCC chief said: “Hence, KTR is a bachha (minnow) in politics, I don’t have to react. Had it been Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, I would have taken the challenge.”

Stating that the ruling party is blatantly using the government machinery to influence the election, Uttam demanded Tummala Nageshwar Rao to resign from the minister’s post and fight the election. Meanwhile, it appears that the game plan of the Congress is to expose the failures of the ruling TRS.

During the campaigns, the leaders appeared to drive home the point by questioning the poll promises of the TRS such as three acre land to dalits, KG-to PG, reservations to tribals etc.

“Where have gone these leaders when the Congress fielded its candidate against K Shankaramma, mother of Telangana martyr Srikanth Chary, and against Uma Madhava Reddy, wife of A Madhava Reddy,” KTR questioned TRS detractors, who have been talking about humanity for fielding candidate against Sucharitha. Even Ramreddy Venkat Reddy also contested in the byelection of the Sujathanagar constituency when CPI’s Razab Ali died, he added.