VHR plays “local candidate” card to win Amberpet seat

Hyderabad, April 14 : Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha Member V Hanmantha Rao on Monday triggered a debate of candidates being “local” and “non-local”.

Speaking to media persons here, VHR, who is contesting as Congress candidate from Amberpet Assembly seat, said that when people from outside the constituency came and won the seat, then why can’t local people win the seat. “As I was already given Rajya Sabha ticket for four times and it would be difficult to get it next time, the Congress High Command asked me to contest MLA elections this time.” It may be mentioned that VHR strongly opposed the candidature of his own party, the then minorities welfare minister Md Fareeduddin, who was shifted to Amberpet following Zaheerabad seat getting reserved for SCs due to delimitation.

VHR is now trying to play the same “local” and “non-local” card in Amberpet seat to lure voters. Admitting that he lived in Delhi most of the time, he claimed that he never forgot the local issues of his area and worked for the people here.

Criticizing TRS party chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, he called him a person who changes words with season and cannot be believed upon. Attributing the formation of Telangana to Congress and firm commitment of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he said that people have been watching the whole episode and they would decide the future. He said that KCR forgot his promise given to Congress before the bifurcation and now working with a personal agenda.

He also criticized TDP-BJP alliance and said, “Telugu Desam party chief Chandrababu opposed Telangana at every point and the so called national party BJP is now joining hands with such a party.” He asked as to how the BJP would go to public and seek votes in Telangana.

About his ambitions, he said that he had missed the chance to become the Chief Minister twice in the past. “This time I will focus on winning the elections then comes the matter of who will become the CM” he said when asked about his wish to become the Chief Minister.  INN