Ministers G Jagadish Reddy and V Srinivas Goud, who were campaigning for the TRS' Nomula Bhagat in Nagarjuna Sagar's Nellikallu area ahead of the by-election in the constituency, today raked up the issue of the "advanced age" of the Congress candidate for the seat, K Jana Reddy, yet again.
(The party has been raising concerns about
Jana Reddy's age in its campaign for some time now - party leaders have repeatedly been commenting on his unsuitability for the role citing the septuagenarian's age.)
The two ministers mockingly asked Jana Reddy whether a 40-year-long political career was inadequate to bring about development, and slammed the latter for allegedly not having developed the poll-bound constituency in his long career.
"Jana Reddy has not even completed the Nellikallu lift irrigation project. How can he ask for votes now? It is a well-known fact that it is the TRS government brings development and welfare to all. We spend Rs 40,000 crore annually on welfare. This is possible only under the guidance of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who is committed to the well-being of all actions of society. Our government is currently completing the abandoned Nellikallu project to address the water paucity issue in the region. It is due to this commitment to progress and welfare that we can confidently say that the people of Nagarjuna Sagar will support us in the April 17 election," Reddy and Goud claimed.
They then brought up the issue of Jana Reddy's age, and said that the septuagenarian would not be able to work for the people at his age in the same way that a "young and dynamic" leader like Nomula Bhagat would.
Saying so, they urged the voters of the region to support Bhagat and to help him win the by-election with a huge majority.
"Reject the Congress that has rejected you and has neglected your needs and problems. It is the TRS that will always work towards your welfare and uplift. Soon, our government will complete the Nellikallu irrigation works and will turn your region into a water-abundant one. Our candidate Nomula Bhagat will follow in the footsteps of his father, late Nomula Narsimhaiah, and will take forward his legacy. He will implement the welfare schemes introduced by us which will continue to benefit you," the two ministers told the voters.