Modi is `corona', KCR is `Ravana': MP Revanth Reddy after taking charge as TPCC prez

Hyderabad, July 7: Calling AICC president Sonia Gandhi as the real "Telangana Talli (mother), newly appointed TPCC president A Revanth Reddy today pledged to bring the grand old party to power in 2023 assembly polls.

Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as `more dangerous than corona', he vowed to send them packing. Lashing out at TRS and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for allegedly duping martyrs, Revanth Reddy, who is also Malkajgiri MP, asked the people to thank Sonia Gandhi for granting statehood to Telangana despite huge pressure.

"I am asking Telangana samajam (society), don't we bless those who provide a glass of water to us? Sonia Gandhiji fulfilled our 60-year dream. Shouldn't we be grateful to her? Shouldn't people bring back Congress rule in the State and Centre. We should construct a temple for Sonia Gandhi ji and every home should have her photo," he said amidst cheers.

Revanth Reddy said to fulfill the dream of Telangana martyrs like Srikantha Chary every party worker should not sleep for two years and tour every thanda, village, and town in the State and spread the Congress philosophy and the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. "None can stop us from coming back to power," he said.

Accusing KCR and his family of looting the state, he said the chief minister is like "Ravana" who kidnapped Sita donning the role of Golden deer. "KCR promised many things. He cheated Telangana martyrs and people. He failed to provide jobs. There were 1.07 lakh vacant government posts when the state was formed which has grown to 1.97 lakh. Encounters and farmers' suicides continue. We fought against Nizam rule, Razakars. We suffered a lot in undivided Andhra Pradesh. We can fight KCR and his misrule," he said.

He chided his supporters for raising slogans in support of him. He said henceforth Jai Sonia, Jai Congress will be the only slogans. Those violating would be banished from the party, he said. Revanth Reddy assumed charge as TPCC president along with his team on Wednesday amidst fanfare and boisterous swearing-in ceremony at "vasthu compliant " Gandhi Bhavan, Nampally here.

Later a public meeting was held at Indira Bhavan where outgoing TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy symbolically handed over the party flag to new TPCC president Revanth Reddy. He is the third TPCC president after Ponnala Lakshmaiah and N Uttam Kumar Reddy since the formation of Telangana in 2014. Uttam Kumar Reddy wished Revanth Reddy all success and promised to bring down the TRS government. A worker was injured in the melee and rushed to the hospital.

Congress cadre especially Revanth Reddy supporters were in an upbeat mood. They hoped the fortunes of Congress will change for good under the new youthful leadership.

Before assuming charge, Revanth Reddy offered prayers at the Peddamma Temple in Jubilee Hills and took blessings of the archakas at a special puja, visited Dargah at Nampally before arriving at Gandhi Bhavan in a huge 4-hour procession from Jubilee Hills to Gandhi Bhavan, causing traffic jams en route.

Reddy, who faced opposition within the party, has an uphill task ahead to win 2023 assembly elections. Besides facing a formidable TRS and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Reddy is caught in a serious charge of bribing an MLC in the "vote for note" case. The State government has intensified the probe since Revanth Reddy joined Congress in 2017.

Revanth Reddy also faces an acid test in the forthcoming by-elections to Huzurabad Assembly constituency. The seat fell vacant after the resignation of senior TRS leader and former Health Minister Etala Rajender, who joined BJP.

Though Revanth Reddy campaigned for Congress in the 2018 assembly elections, he lost his Kodangal Assembly constituency. Later he won Malkajgiri MP seat. AICC is hopeful of Revanth Reddy reviving Congress before the 2023 assembly elections.