03.11.2025 - HYDERABAD - Jubilee Hills byelection Congress candidate Naveen Yadav takes part in an election campaign along with Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy.
(Photo | Express)HYDERABAD: In the run-up to the November 11 Jubilee Hills byelection, the BRS and BJP have been targeting Congress candidate Naveen Yadav and his family, accusing them of “rowdyism”. However, Revenue & Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy dismissed these remarks as ‘baseless’ allegations, adding it is the BRS that is displaying its arrogance and rowdyism with its comments and claims.
In an exclusive interview with TNIE on the sidelines of his campaign trail in the bastis of Rahmatnagar, the minister — who has been frequently travelling between Jubilee Hills and Bihar for election campaigns — expressed confidence that the state government’s welfare programmes and housing initiatives being implemented under the leadership of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy would help the Congress secure a decisive victory in the byelection.
Excerpts
How is the election campaign going?
In the Jubilee Hills byelection, the Congress is fielding a young candidate, Naveen Yadav. He will win with a huge majority as the people are ready to bless him.
What is the margin of victory you are expecting?
Our candidate will win the seat with a minimum majority of 50,000 votes.
Why do you think people will vote for your party?
This election is going to be a cakewalk for the Congress. Our government, under the leadership of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, is ensuring that welfare schemes like free transportation for women, superfine rice, 200 units of free electricity, new ration cards and several other benefits reach both the urban and rural poor.
The opposition BRS and BJP are accusing your candidate Naveen Yadav of resorting to “rowdyism.” What is your response?
There’s a saying in Telugu — Pacha Kaamerlu Vachina Vaadiki Desham Antha Pachaga Kanipisthundhi (everything looks yellow to the jaundiced eye). Those who are involved in rowdyism themselves are now accusing others of it. I strongly condemn these baseless allegations by the opposition parties. In fact, it is the BRS that is displaying its arrogance and rowdyism by claiming it will come to power within 500 days when elections are still three years away. Isn’t that the arrogance born out of the money they amassed through the Kaleshwaram scam?
Locals are raising housing concerns. They say neither the previous government nor yours has provided them with houses.
The previous government failed to provide housing for the poor. In contrast, our government sanctioned 4.5 lakh houses across the state soon after coming to power, and those units are at various stages of construction. We are also completing the construction of pending 2BHK houses started by the BRS government. We will ensure that all eligible poor families are allotted houses with proper facilities at the earliest.
