I’m Senior Rowdy Sheeter, I Deserve Ticket: Telangana Cong Leader

The politician said being a ‘rowdy sheeter’, a person with a criminal record, entitles him to contest polls.

Telangana Congress leader Billa Sudheer Reddy.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook.@BillaSudheerReddy)

Even as the upcoming elections to the Telangana state Assembly have triggered internal rifts within political parties on bagging tickets, perhaps the strongest candidature has come from none other than Billa Sudheer Reddy of the Indian National Congress.

While lawmaker hopefuls in relatively less corrupt parts of the world may have their future decided by past performance as legislators or social workers, Sudheer Reddy makes it very clear that he has one merit that entitles him a ticket to contest the elections – being a renowned ‘rowdy sheeter’, that is, a person with a criminal record.

You read that right. In a video that has gone viral across the state, taken at a press conference said to have taken place in Raiparthy in Warangal district, the ‘humble’ rowdy is seen requesting senior party leaders for a ticket on account of being an outstanding ‘senior’ rowdy sheeter, even better than a ‘junior’ rowdy sheeter from the party. While it is unclear as to when the video was shot, the incident is said to have taken place earlier this week.

Even as an aide sitting behind him laughs nervously, Sudheer declares boldly, “If a rowdy sheeter has to be chosen by the Congress party, then it has to be me!”

“I have done rowdy activities only for the Congress party,” he says in his attempt to tug at the heartstrings of decision-makers in the party.

With such confidence that he is sure to be the envy of any nervous person who has ever attended a crucial job interview, Sudheer Reddy proceeds to unpack his criminal record with great enthusiasm in the hopes of landing the ticket to the Palakurthy constituency.

“I have not been booked for land grabbing, rioting, harassment or financial irregularities. I have not even destroyed any families,” he asserts.

Is Sudheer taunting the Telangana police for never having caught him for illegal activities? Or does he possess a record of criminality for other, equal worrying, offences? We’re just as confused as you.

Billa Sudheer Reddy hopes to be picked over Janga Raghava Reddy, who in the former’s opinion is a ‘junior’ rowdy sheeter in comparison to him. Pouring scorn all over Janga, Sudheer says in a condescending tone, “I am not like him, I didn’t do any contract killing like Raghava Reddy.”

“It was only because I protested against the injustices meted out to Congress workers that they opened a rowdy sheet on me. I became a rowdy only for the party,” he adds.

(This article was first published on The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)