HYDERABAD: Exuding confidence that the Congress will win 13 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said that there will be an increase in the ruling party’s vote share. He, however, said that the party may be limited to nine seats if the “BRS conspiracies” worked out.
The chief minister reviewed the voting trends based on the survey reports and feedback from party functionaries.
“We don’t know what BRS has done in the election. It becomes a little difficult to assess the election without knowing what they (BRS) have done. But BRS candidates will lose their security deposits in six seats,” Revanth told reporters during an informal interaction at his residence.
Stating that the BRS made the saffron party a viable political force in the state, he said that the pink party’s approach of “zero opposition” paved the way for the rise of the BJP in Telangana.
Revanth reiterated that the BJP was likely to get 220 seats across India, with the margin of error in his assessment being 10%.
Earlier in the day, the TPCC chief’s office indicated that the Congress would win in Nalgonda, Bhongir, Khammam, Warangal, Mahabubabad, Peddapalli, Nizamabad, Mahbubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Medak, Zaheerabad, Chevella and Secunderabad constituencies.
New ration cards soon
Stating that the state government will soon start accepting applications for new ration cards, the chief minister said that his administration will procure agricultural produce directly from farmers and supply it to holders of ration cards at subsidised prices.
Stating that the time for politics has ended, Revanth said that accepting applications for ration cards, which was stopped during the BRS regime, would be a continuous process.
Responding to news reports that the L& T will be backing out of the Hyderabad Metro Rail due to free bus scheme, the chief minister made it clear that Mahalakshmi scheme providing free bus travel to women will not be stopped at any cost. He opined that they would look into the comments of L&T.
“My government is committed to giving superfine rice to holders of food security cards. Generally, farmers are interested in producing a coarse variety of rice given its high yield. By giving remunerative prices, we would encourage farmers to go for superfine variety of rice, oil seeds, turmeric, sugar and other essential commodities. We will provide the same superfine quality of rice and other essential supplies to food security card holders at subsidised prices. We will prepare an indent of the required items and quantity. The state will bear the subsidy cost,” Revanth said, during an informal chat with reporters at his residence here.
Time for governance
The chief minister said that with the conclusion of polling for the Lok Sabha elections, he has now shifted his focus to governance, administration, welfare, development, implementation of the farm loan waiver, procurement of soaked paddy, supplying textbooks and uniforms to students, bringing reforms in the educational sector among other things.
“As far as I am concerned, politics have come to an end. The time for allegations and counter allegations is over. My focus is governance, education, agriculture, and agriculture loans. Let critics think what they may, I don’t care,” Revanth said.
He confirmed that he would resume work from the state Secretariat. The chief minister also said that he would appoint education and agriculture commissions for the purpose of regulation.
He maintained that the state government would float Agriculture Welfare Corporation enabling it with income generation to waive farm loans. The chief minister also said that the government will appoint Vice-Chancellors to all the universities in the state after the Model Code of Conduct is lifted. He also expressed his inclination to hold an all-party meeting to which civil society organisations will be invited to discuss public issues and frame state policies.
Responding to a question on who would win in Andhra Pradesh, Revanth said that his government would maintain a cordial relationship with the administration in the neighbouring state regardless of which party is elected to power in the best interest of the people of Telangana.
Phone-tapping etc
Reacting to a question on the phone-tapping case, the chief minister said that the state government will discuss the matter in the Assembly. He also disclosed that the Formula E case was also under investigation.
Asked about the expansion of his Cabinet, the chief minister said that the party high command has to take a decision to this effect. He, however, hinted that an SC, ST, BC and an OBC may fill the six vacancies.
