HYDERABAD: Even as Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is contemplating holding early polls to the State assembly like the way NT Rama Rao had done in 1989, and N Chandrababu Naidu followed in 2004, Congress leader A Revanth Reddy predicted that KCR would meet a fate similar to that of NTR in 1989 and Naidu in 2004, if polls are held ahead of schedule or as per schedule.
While the comparison might sound strange, the Kodangal MLA has his own reasoning for it. In a chat with the Editorial Team of Express on Sunday, Revanth recalled that TDP founder NTR, as the Chief Minister of the then united State, during his tenure from 1985 to 1989, had stood as a role model in the entire country in the implementation of novel welfare schemes such as Rs 2 per kg rice, housing scheme for poor, introduction of reservations for women and BCs in local bodies.
“Even though he launched several welfare measures for the benefit of various sections of people, NTR ruled the State in a high-handed manner, without giving importance to his ministers. This was contrary to the Telugu pride and self-respect principle which was foundation for TDP. NTR’s egoistic rule earned defeat by Congress in the 1989 polls, even though there was no able leader in the Congress at that time to challenge the charisma of a leader of NTR’s stature,” he explained.
Likewise, the then AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu, during his tenure from 1999 to 2004, was overconfident that the development he had done in and around Hyderabad would make his party retain power. But, TDP lost in the Khairathabad itself, where entire development, like establishment of Hitec City, was centred. “The reason for Naidu’s defeat in 2004 was that he stopped paying heed to views of others and started thinking himself to be supreme,” Revanth said.
“NTR in 1989 and Naidu in 2004 were defeated only for considering themselves as most important, by not paying heed to the advices of their ministers. In case of KCR, he is ruling the State like a tyrant. His ministers are all dummies. KCR and other four of his family are dictating the terms in the government. This is contrary to objectives of Telangana movement, which was built on three key goals — self-respect, self-rule and social justice,” he predicted.
Naidu stood by me in most turbulent times
Quoting the saying “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” Revanth said even now, he has great respect for TDP chief and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, “as Naidu’s family had stood his side, when he was facing turbulent times”, after the “cash-for-vote” episode. “During the critical hour, all my relatives and friends ditched me. Nobody was there to provide moral support to me and my family. But Naidu and family solidly stood behind me. Hence, personally, I always treat AP CM with utmost respect,” he stated.