Minister Gummanur Jayaram joins TDP

In his address, TDP State president K. Atchannaidu alleged that the YSRCP government suppressed the BCs. Alleging that he had been falsely arrested on charges of corruption, Mr. Atchannaidu challenged the government to prove the charges.

Alleging that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy was known for driving a wedge between castes and regions for his political gain, he said people of the State were eager to send the YSRCP packing.

NTR’s initiative

Former Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, who played a key role in the preparation of the BC Declaration, said that TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao was the first leader to reach out to the BCs and ensure their socioeconomicpolitical empowerment. Mr. Naidu continued the spirit of NTR and provided political opportunities to the BCs, he added.

“The neo rich are emerging by looting public money, and there is a need to check the trend. In the last five years, the YSRCP leaders have looted public money and natural resources,” he said.

In his speech, TDP national general secretary N. Lokesh said the party had constituted subcastewise committees to address the problems of the BCs before preparing the declaration.

He said the TDP government had provided welfare schemes and educational opportunities for the BCs, besides extending financial assistance to the entrepreneurs among them. He accused Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy of doing injustice to the BCs by slashing the 10% reservation that existed for them in the local body elections. He also alleged that the YSRCP government had foisted false cases against more than 20,000 BCs in the last five years.

MP Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy had cheated the BCs in the name of corporations. He said the government did not allocate funds for the corporations.