Ruling out any tie-up between the Telugu Desam Party and the Congress, Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy asserted on Wednesday that he would hang himself if the TDP forged an alliance with the Congress.
Stating that the TDP would never sail with the Congress, he told the media in Kurnool that it was the party decision and not his individual opinion. The party leadership would consider electoral alliances before the next elections. Asserting that elections were likely around November this year, Mr. Reddy said the party was prepared to face them whenever they were held.
The party leaders and activists were working in accordance with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s call to ensure victory in 25 Lok Sabha seats and 175 Assembly constituencies in the State, the Deputy Chief Minister stated.
Accusing the BJP and the YSR Congress Party of enacting a drama, he said the people were aware of the climax in 2019. Mr. Naidu’s image was growing like the ‘Sukla Paksha Chandrudu’ and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s graph was diminishing like ‘Krishna Paksha Chandrudu’, he remarked.
Remarks refuted
Refuting the YSRCP leaders’ remarks against him, Mr. Krishnamurthy said he was in the limelight in politics for the last four decades with people’s patronage and has never faced any corruption charge. Stating that he would apologise if he erred at any point of time, he challenged the YSRCP leaders to contest against him or his family and prove their mettle. He accused the BJP and the YSRCP of making match-fixing and duping the people.
Maintaining that Mr. Naidu was developing the State without the Centre’s cooperation, Mr. Krishnamurthy said Andhra Pradesh had abundant natural resources, ports, tourism potential and human resources for development on a par with Gujarat. Mr. Naidu would lay foundation stone for Pulikanuma, Pulakurthy, Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme right canal and Vedavathi projects during his next visit to the district, he said, adding Kurnool airport would be ready by January next.
‘80% promises fulfilled’
Mr. Naidu had fulfilled 80 % of promises made in his Independence Day address at Kurnool in 2014 and would complete the remaining ones within a year.
The Opposition charges on that count were baseless, he said. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi betrayed the State, he alleged. District TDP president Somisetty Venkateswarlu challenged YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to contest from Kurnool and win the election. He said Mr. Krishnamurthy ensured vital posts to 15 BC leaders in Kurnool district. Kurnool MLA S.V. Mohan Reddy accused YSRCP MPs of dilly-dallying on their resignation by hobnobbing with the BJP.
