Ponguleti Refutes Speculations Of Becoming CM With Help Of BJP

Minister for Revenue and I & PR Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy today refuted speculations that he was planning to become the Chief Minister of Telangana with the help of the BJP.

In an informal chat with media persons, the minister asked how he could become the Chief Minister, and accused the media of writing whatever they likes.

He also quoted the proverb that only trees with fruits were hit by stones.

Replying to questions by the media asking him if he was the number 2 in the Congress and if he was going to become the next Chief Minister, Ponguleti said, "If I am with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy every day, how can I become number 2? I am the junior-most leader in the Congress. And if I think that I will become the Chief Minister, it will be just lack of intelligence."

The minister also predicted that the Congress would easily win more than 11 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana in the upcoming elections, and there there would be a close contest in three other constituencies.

"The BJP is likely to win two seats while BRS has a chance to win one or two seats," Reddy said.

He also alleged that the previous BRS government was responsible for the shortage of irrigation waters prevailing in the State. He asserted that the damage to the Kaleshwaram project did not stop with three pillars, and that the whole project was in danger.

He also said that there was no shortage of drinking water in Telangana. "Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is monitoring the situation, and adequate steps have been taken to meet the demand," Reddy said.

The minister also said that the disbursement of money for farmers having 5 acres of land under the Rythu Bandhu scheme would be completed in the next two days, and also that a white paper on the irregularities in the Dharani portal would be released soon.