We are determined to come to power this time: Bandi Sanjay Kumar

HYDERABAD

Bharatiya Janata party Telangana unit president and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar is all set to embark on the third phase of his 325-km 'Praja Sangrama Yatra' from August 2 to 26. Akin to his earlier two phases, when he began after offering prayers at a prominent temple, he will be starting from the abode of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Yadadri and culminating at Bhadrakali Temple in Hanamkonda as it is his "sentiment". In this interview, he explains about the significance of his programme.

What is the objective behind the third phase of the 'padayatra'?

When I took up the first padayatra and later the second one, there were doubts among many whether we can get people's attention, and that we were foraying into areas where our party had no presence. We got more response than we had anticipated and we have shown that people are looking up to us. The same is being said about Nalgonda, Khammam and Warangal where we are going to move now.

What will you be highlighting during this phase?

We have been successful in relevant local issues at every place be it demand for two-bedroom housing, jobs for unemployed youth, lack of pensions, irrigation works being ignored, migrations and others. We could see the disenchantment of the people with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) regime.

Where do you see your support base growing?

Every section is supporting us. Many think it is just youth, but we have women feeling cheated about two-bedroom housing, women self-groups realising they have been used by TRS without giving the benefit of the 25 paisa interest loans, farmers taken for a ride and the employees too. It is our party which has fought for salaries payment on time, for pay revision commission and against the arbitrary transfers policy.