Deccan Chronicle

Revanth: Rahul will become PM, south to reap benefits

CM says southern states neglected by BJP in last 10 years

- DC CORRESPOND­ENT

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday expressed confidence that the next prime minister will be Rahul Gandhi, MP from southern state of Kerala, after Lok Sabha elections. He said Narendra Modi, MP from Varanasi, served as the Prime Minister for 10 years and the next Prime Minister will be Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad for 20 years.

Revanth Reddy reminded the voters of Wayanad, from where Rahul Gandhi is seeking reelection as an MP, that they are electing the PM and not just electing an MP. Once Rahul Gandhi becomes the Prime Minister, he said southern states, which were neglected by the Narendra Modi government, will benefit a lot with huge fund allocation­s.

Revanth Reddy left for a two-day visit to Kerala on Wednesday to campaign for Rahul Gandhi and Congress-led UDF candidates in Kerala.

His campaign evoked huge response with a massive crowd turning up to greet him and gathered on the sides of the roads and nearby buildings. Revanth Reddy will campaign in a few more states in April and May.

Speaking to media persons at Wayanad, Revanth Reddy said, “Rahul Gandhi is going to be the prime minister of this country. For the last 10 years, the Prime Minister has been from Varanasi and for the coming 20 years, the prime minister will be from Wayanad.”

Referring to the BJP’S “400-plus” slogan, he said, “It will only remain as a slogan but it won’t succeed as Modi has got two terms but he has betrayed people.”

Alleging that south India faced ‘discrimina­tion’ during the past 10-year rule of the Modi government, Revanth Reddy said,

“South India is also in India. Why didn’t Modi come here earlier? Why didn’t he give us the bullet train and riverfront like Sabarmati? Modi remembers south India only for votes. He hasn’t given political representa­tion to south India in big positions such as President of India, Vice-president, home minister, defence minister etc. Financial allocation­s to south India were less compared with north India. The BJP has no right to seek votes in south India. The South has banned them.”

With filing of nomination­s for Lok Sabha elections commencing on Thursday, the ruling Congress has decided to step up campaignin­g in all the 17 constituen­cies in Telangana.

The campaign will be spearheade­d by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who is planning to address 50 election rallies covering all Lok Sabha constituen­cies until May 11, the last day of campaignin­g. He will also participat­e in around 15 roadshows.

Currently campaignin­g in Kerala for two days, Revanth Reddy will return on Thursday night and resume campaignin­g in Telangana on Friday. He will address election rallies in Mahbubnaga­r and Mahbubabad constituen­cies on April 19 and another one in Bhongir on April 21. Reddy will also take part when party candidates from Mahabubnag­ar, Mahabubaba­d and Bhongir file their nomination­s.

Meanwhile, the party is expected to declare names of candidates for Khammam, Karimnagar and Hyderabad, which are pending, in a day or two. The party leadership has asked candidates in the 14 Lok Sabha constituen­cies that have been cleared to launch a door-to-door campaign from Thursday. The party appointed incharges for every Assembly constituen­cy falling under each Lok Sabha constituen­cy to coordinate the campaignin­g with candidates.

Revanth Reddy has devised a three-tier campaign model for every Lok Sabha constituen­cy for effective coordinati­on during campaignin­g.

The first level will comprise Assembly constituen­cy-level leaders, the second will be mandal-level leaders and the third will be booth-level leaders.

All these leaders will reach out to every household and every voter, explain about the implementa­tion of five out of six guarantees within 100 days of coming to power and seek their support for the party candidates.

 ?? — BY ARRANGEMEN­T ?? Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy addresses a public meeting at Wayanad in Kerala supporting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.
— BY ARRANGEMEN­T Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy addresses a public meeting at Wayanad in Kerala supporting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.

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