BRS offered support to CPI in KMC only to protect Singareni workers’ interests: KTR

KTR claims BRS supported CPI in KMC elections to protect Singareni workers from exploitation by Congress and BJP.

HYDERABAD

Working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) K.T. Rama Rao stated that they had offered unconditional support to the Communist Party of India (CPI) for the election of Mayor to the Kothagudem Municipal Corporation, where no party had secured majority (required number of wards), only to stop the Congress that had been exploiting Singareni Collieries.

Speaking after participating in the birth anniversary celebrations of Sant Sevalal Maharaj in the party office here on Sunday, he alleged that the Congress had been exploiting the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) to serve its political interests and it was the responsibility of the BRS to oppose all such efforts.

He said he was not aware of what pressures the CPI had in accepting the alliance offered by the Congress in KMC, though it could have easily won the Mayor’s post without Congress and with other parties’ support, including BRS. The only reason behind their (BRS) offer was the interests of Singareni workers as Congress along with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were indulging in exploitation of SCCL.

On the municipal election results, the BRS working president said there was a hung situation in 34 urban local bodies (ULBs) and the ruling Congress had already unveiled its plans to gain an upper hand by ‘abducting’ the councillors and corporators of other parties, harassing and threatening them by sending police and/or ‘goondas’, and offering baits.

He explained how the previous government had given priority to the development of tribal/lambada habitations by forming 3,146 of them into gram panchayats and enhanced reservation from 6% to 10% and ruled the State by drawing inspiration from the slogan — ‘jal, jungle, jameen’. Party leaders Anil Jadhav, Satyavathi Rathod, B. Johnson Rathod, Ramachandru Naik and others participated.