Delayed announcement of candidates for Telangana polls part of BJP strategy; 50% list finalised: Kishan Reddy

BJP state president Kishan Reddy said the BJP would hoist the party’s flag in Telangana after winning the Assembly elections.

BySouth First Desk

Published Oct 09, 2023 | 7:47 PMUpdatedOct 09, 2023 | 7:47 PM

BJP state president G Kishan Reddy

Union Tourism Minister and Telangana BJP state president G Kishan Reddy on Monday, 9 October, exuded confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the Assembly elections slated to be conducted on 30 November, while the BRS and Congress would be confined to the second and third places, respectively.

He also said the delay in the announcement of the party’s candidates was part of the BJP’s election strategy, and that as many as 50 percent of the candidates had been finalised.

Responding to the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the Assembly elections in five states including Telangana, he said in Hyderabad that the BJP would hoist the party’s flag in Telangana after winning the Assembly elections.

He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to drive out corrupt family rule from Telangana and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao was planning to contest the elections using money and power. 

Related: Telangana to vote in single phase on 30 Nov; results on 3 Dec

BJP as the alternative

The people in the state have already witnessed the rule of both the Congress and BRS. The two failed to respect the aspirations of 1,200 Telangana martyrs who died during the movement for a separate state, he said. 

Kishan Reddy said the traitors of separate Telangana got ministerships in the BRS government, and some traitors were sitting in Pragathi Bhavan, the official residence of the chief minister in Begumpet. 

Therefore, the people were seeing the BJP as an alternative to the BRS and Congress. As Assembly elections in the state would be conducted in another 50 days, the people want the ECI to hold the entire electioneering without any bias. 

Since the party has constituted various committees to prepare a comprehensive action plan for the elections, the leaders and cadre must work hard in the coming days to ensure the party’s victory in the elections. 

The party has already geared up for the elections and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed two public meetings in Telangana recently. 

Related: CEC warns political parties against gifting money, goods to voters

₹33,000 crore for railways

Union Ministers and several leaders would also visit Telangana for the election campaign, he said, adding that the Central government has spent ₹33,000 crore for railways in Telangana. 

Speaking after flagging off four train services from Secunderabad Railway Station, Kishan Reddy said the Cherlapally Railway Terminal would be dedicated to the nation in January 2024.

He said the Railway Board has sanctioned funds for MMTS second phase and MMTS services would be extended till Yadadri if the State government extends its cooperation.

Related: SOUTH FIRST VIEW: Testing the Telangana spirit

Amit Shah to visit Telangana

According to Kishan Reddy, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Telangana on 10 October and address a public meeting in the Adilabad district. He would then return to the city and interact with intellectuals and academicians in Secunderabad

BJP MLA Etala Rajender, who was also present at the press conference, said the chief minister achieved the distinction of spending huge money during the elections in Telangana compared to other parties in the country. 

The chief minister was contesting elections with the money generated after selling thousands of acres of land and already ₹15 crore each reached each constituency, he said.