ETALA: TRS TRYING TO DISRUPT MY PADAYATRA
Even as TRS is trying to retain its seat in Huzurabad constituency by announcing sops to various sections of people, former minister, Etala Rajendar, determined to win a record seventh successive term, on Monday launched ‘Praja Divena Yatra’, along with his wife, Jamuna, to seek the blessings of Huzurabad people. The yatra will be held for 23 days covering 270 kilometres through 127 villages, spread over five mandals.
Rajendar started the yatra after offering prayers at Anjaneya Swamy temple in Battinavaripally village of Kamalapur mandal. Later, he covered Shanigaram, Madannapet and Gunaparthi villages. He will wind up the day after covering Sriramulapet and Ambala villages.
Speaking at Shanigaram, Rajendar came heavily against the TRS party and its leaders, who, he alleged, were trying to kill him. “When Nayeem gang threatened to kill me, I did not step back. TRS must stop such silly tricks as people will never tolerate it if anything happens to me. I am the son of Etala Mallaiah and will go to any extent for the sake of maintaining self-respect,” he said.
Rajendar alleged that even after taking prior permission, and because they were afraid of losing the elections, the ruling party was trying to create hurdles to his padayatra.
“When we booked a rice mill for our lunch, TRS leaders threatened owners of the rice mill and seized all kitchen equipment,” he said, adding that the orders of Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekar Rao, were being executed by Parakala MLA, Challa Dharma Reddy.
It is learnt that the TRS is ‘buying’ sarpanchs by fixing rates. Irrespective of what steps they take they will meet the same fate as at Dubbaka, he said. Meanwhile, a tense atmosphere prevailed in Kamalapur mandal before the yatra began. Workers from BJP and TRS competed with each other to put their respective party flags at strategic locations in the mandal.
Former MP and BJP core committee member Vivek Venkata Swamy, former MP AP Jithendar Reddy, Dubbaka MLA Raghunandan, prominent leaders Enugu Ravinder Reddy, Tula Uma, Khuna Srisailam Goud, Rao Padma and Gangadi Krishna Reddy accompanied Rajendar.