AICC Secretary and MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy on Sunday denied media reports that Rajya Sabha MP K Chiranjeevi would campaign only in five out of 18 assembly constituencies where by-elections are scheduled to be held on June 12.
Talking to reporters at the Congress Legislature Party office, Ponguleti said that being the star-campaigner of Congress party, Chiranjeevi would campaign for all 18 assembly and one Lok Sabha seats. He said Chiranjeevi would never confine himself to a few seats. He accused a section of media of distorting Chiranjeevi’s statements to claim that he would confine himself to just five assembly segments.
Ponguleti also came down heavily on Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu for targeting the Congress party. He said that Naidu has been making false allegations against the Congress leaders and State Government. He said Naidu’s malicious campaign against the ruling party would backfire against him and people would teach the TDP a fitting lesson in the next elections.
The Congress MLC also advised Naidu to take rest due to health problems by resigning from the party post and as the Leader of the Opposition.
Ponguleti also expressed concern over the wastage of public money on by-elections. He said that the by-elections have been imposed upon the people by some individuals for their own benefits. He said that the money which was being spent on conducting by-elections could have been spent on the drought-hit areas of the State. The State Government was forced to halt several welfare and development schemes due to Model Code of Conduct, he said while adding that frequent by-elections had an adverse impact on the pace of development in the State.
However, he defended by-elections in Tirupati assembly seat. He said Chiranjeevi had to vacate the seat after his elevation as the Rajya Sabha MP. He said the case of Tirupati seat was different from 17 other assembly constituencies.
Ponguleti also requested all the MLAs and MLCs to spend their funds for two-months to solve the drinking water problems in the State. (INN)