Rama Krishna Sangem
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 21, Sunday predicted a BJP government in Telangana after next assembly elections. Shah addressed a public meeting at Munugode in Nalgonda district said that people of Telangana are ready to elect BJP. The meeting was arranged for the entry of Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy who quit as Munugode MLA into BJP. Reddy won as MLA on Congress ticket in 2018.
Interestingly, TRS supreme and CM KCR addressed a major public meeting in Munugode on Saturday and posed some questions to BJP leaders – like fixing of meters for agricultural power connections. But, Shah was silent on this issue. But, he raised some other points – like why KCR hasn’t implemented distribution of three acres land to every Dalit family in the state.
This BJP’s show of strength in support of Raj Gopal Reddy displayed the party’s keenness to win the seat in the by-poll which may take place sometime November or December, along with Gujarat assembly elections. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, BJP Rajya Sabha MP K Laxman, state party president Bandi Sanjay, MLAs Rajender, Raghunandan, seniors – DK Aruna, G Vivek, former MP Vijayashanti, and others spoke at the meeting.
Shah’s half day visit to Hyderabad and Munugode is packed with political diplomacy as well as image building. Shah who came here by a special flight met with some farmers and discussed with them the burning issues confronting them. Later, he went to Ramoji Film City where he closeted with media baron Ramoji Rao. Later before leaving for Delhi, Shah had a meeting with popular film hero NTR Jr at Novatel over dinner.
Much interest was shown over Shah’s meeting with NTR, for its political significance. However, BJP circles made it clear that it was a courtesy call and that Shah wanted to congratulate NTR Jr for his performance in recent RRR movie. It may be noted that another hero of the same movie – Ram Charan – was not called for this dinner. But, the movie story writer KV Vijayendra Prasad was recently nominated as Rajya Sabha MP.
With Shah meeting, the political stage is set for Munugode by-election. While TRS is trying to wrest the seat from Raj Gopal Reddy, BJP is bent on winning here. Congress which won the seat four years ago desperately needs a victory here as it wants to project its strength in South Telangana. CM KCR has secured the backing of two Left parties – CPI and CPI(M) in Munugode and is likely to continue the tie up in the coming assembly elections too.
