Rajagopal cheated Munugode people, Congress: Kusukuntla

Munugode: With the by-election to Munugode Assembly constituency getting closer, there is an intense debate on who will win the keenly-contested seat, but Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy, who is in the fray for third time in a row on ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) ticket, claims that he will win the by-polls with a bumper majority.

"In the 2014 elections, I received nearly 69,500 votes and won the Munugode seat with a 38,000 majority. In 2018, I got over 61,600 votes, but lost with a deficit of 23,500 as all major parties came together to defeat me. That will not happen this time. Going by the response of the people and reports that I am getting, I am extremely confident that I will win this election with a bumper majority," Reddy said.

The by-election to Munugode Assembly constituency that spreads across parts of Nalgonda and Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri districts in Telangana, were necessitated by the resignation of Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy who won the seat in 2018 Assembly polls on Congress ticket, but recently shifted his loyalties to BJP. Rajagopal Reddy is in fray on the behalf of the saffron party, while Congress has fielded Palvai Sravanthi Reddy, daughter of Palvai Govardhan Reddy, a five-time MLA from the constituency. Some other parties including BSP are also trying their luck in the by-elections scheduled for November 3.

Speaking to Bizz Buzz during lunch break near Nampally, a mandal headquarters in the constituency recently, Prabhakar Reddy alleged that Komatireddy cheated both Munugode voters and Congress.

"In the 2018 elections, Congress party gave ticket to Rajagopal Reddy and people fell in his trap, believing his false promises. He cheated the bothby resigning for the sake of Rs 18,000-crore contract doled out by BJP," he claimed.

Asked about Rajagopal Reddy's comment that the defeat of TRS and KCR in Telangana would begin in Munugode, the TRS candidate said his rival is daydreaming. "Elections are not happening across Telangana now. This is a single by-poll. How can he defeat TRS and KCR in Telangana if he wins here? He has lost balance these days as he is on the verge of losing elections here," he remarked, pointing out that he is contesting in Munugode, not KCR.

He further said that Rajagopal Reddy is a small leader, while KCR is a giant leader. "KCR is leader of Telangana, president of TRS and Chief Minister, while Rajagopal Reddy is a small fly. He is under the false impression that he will become a big leader if he criticises KCR. But that will not happen. Munugode people are observing all these histrionics and they know what to do," he said.

On his party's strengths, he said that welfare schemes of the TRS government would benefit the party during the by-polls. "Welfare schemes are essential to develop the downtrodden and weaker sections of the society. For instance, the TRS government is offering Rs 1.16 lakh under Kalyana Lakshmi Scheme which is benefitting many families when they marry off their daughters. So is also Rythu Bandhu under which investment subsidies are being provided to farmers. There are many such innovative schemes of our government. All the beneficiaries of these schemes will definitely vote for TRS," he said.

According to him, Munugode voters are mature and active. "I strongly believe that they think from all angles before deciding. They have the capacity to judge which of the contesting candidates can develop this area. They also know the background of each candidate, whether a candidate can deliver or not and whether he or she is accessible or not".

In 2014 elections, I received nearly 69,500 votes and won the Munugode seat with over 38,000 majority. In 2018, I received over 61,600 votes, but lost with a deficit of over 23,500 as all major parties came together to defeat me. That will not happen this time.

- Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy, TRS candidate for Munugode by-election