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Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma
Cameraperson: Mythreyee Ramesh
In Telangana’s Gajwel, the fight is between Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Congress leader Vanteru Pratap Reddy.
A native of Gajwel, Reddy defected to the Congress from the Telugu Desam Party and has been in news for multiple reasons. Earlier this week, the police attempted to raid his house after they received a complaint that Reddy was involved in illegal distribution of alcohol and money. Reddy and his supporters resisted, with the Congress leader trying to drench himself in petrol, police said. Reddy, however, alleged that the police tried to kill him.
A few days before, Reddy had complained to the Returning Officer about alleged illegal surveillance and harassment. He had to be forcibly removed after he sat on a dharna (protest) outside the office.
In the last four years, efforts have been made to transform the Gajwel constituency into a model town, with the development of a state-of-the-art hospital, integrated marketplace, 24x7 water supply, schools for children from the minority community and more.
Although there seems to be a lot of support for KCR, a win cannot be guaranteed. Why?
Pratap Reddy spoke to The Quint and answered the questions on his campaign, KCR’s tenure and Gajwel.
Gajwel was a stronghold of the Congress until 2014, when the TRS snatched it. How do you assess these four years?
KCR promised to build houses, allot lands to Dalits and SC/STs, the double bedroom scheme, jobs for every house and water for everybody. But he didn’t do anything. He didn’t fulfil his promises. So people are thinking that because Sonia Gandhi had fought for the status of Telangana as a separate state, we should support the Congress.
Gajwel has been transformed into a star constituency. But do you think there are any schemes that KCR failed to deliver ?
People are not satisfied. The schemes didn’t reach everybody. He has made an education hub in Gajwel but a child at a nearby village needs to walk at least 4 kilometres to reach the school because there are no buses. (It is) Very difficult for a girl child. So people aren’t happy. He constructed a ring road on lands that belonged to the farmers. Then he failed to provide them compensation. For any development, he gets contractors from Andhra Pradesh and Rayal Seema. Aren’t there any contractors in Telangana?
KCR has deputed his irrigation minister to campaign for him here, but you are a local leader. Will your accessibility work in your favour or will KCR shadow every candidate with the development schemes?
The sarpanch, ward members... everybody belongs to the Congress party. TRS doesn’t even have their own people here. They bought people from TDP and Congress.
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