Telangana Congress chief accepts minister's challenge

Accepting the challenge of Telanagana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao, state Congress chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday announced that he and his wife and sitting legislator Padmavathi Reddy would retire from politics if the Congress did not come to power in next elections.

However, he said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao must also announce that he, along with his son Rama Rao (Minister), daughter K. Kavitha (MP) and nephew T. Harish Rao (Minister) will retire from politics if Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) loses the elections.

Reddy told reporters that he is unconditionally accepting the challenge posed by Rama Rao. However, he said that the Chief Minister himself should make the announcement of retirement from politics of his entire family if Congress comes to power in Telangana.

He said Rama Rao's challenge only reflected his arrogance and the power of arrogance has turned TRS leaders blind to the extent that they were not willing to see the sufferings of common people.

No section of the society benefitted from the TRS regime during the last four years, and except for four members of just one family, no one gained from the formation of Telangana State, said Reddy.

He was confident the Congress would win more than 70 seats in next elections, irrespective of whether they are held in December or next year.

--IANS

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