Vivek Says KCR Plotted To Deny Him LS Ticket

TRS leader and former MP G Vivekanand on Monday alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had denied him the party ticket at the last minute in order to ensure that he did not contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

He also alleged that the Chief Minister was encouraging his "stooges" to level baseless allegations against him (Vivek), and that the same "stooges" had kept him away from his Peddapalli Lok Sabha constituency despite his having been given an assurance by the Chief Minister that he would get the party ticket for that seat.

Vivek made these remarks in an open letter written to the Chief Minister.

In the letter, Vivek alleged that the CM had done injustice to Telangana by fielding for the Peddapalli seat a candidate who had fought against the party. He claimed that his father and he had fought for the formation of a separate Telangana State, and that he had joined the TRS only upon an invitation from the CM, but that now he was not only denied a ticket, but was also having to defend himself against allegations that he was a betrayer.

He wondered whether it was betrayal that he had worked for statehood for Telangana and to strengthen the party where it was weak. He also wanted to know whether it was betrayal that he had mounted pressure on national political parties with just two MPs of the TRS in 2014.

He said that the statue of his father G Venkataswamy was erected on Tank Bund in recognition to his relentless services for the formation of a separate Telangana State, and that it was an insult to the late leader that such allegations were being hurled about now. He also said that he had lost his HCA President post after being appointed as a government adviser but took his in his stride as a TRS man, and that this was the reward he was being given.

Vivek said that it was very painful to see many Telangana betrayers becoming big leaders in the party, and even getting tickets to contest the elections, while loyal soldiers of the state like him were sidelined.

He also said that he would not be able to contest in the upcoming elections as he did not have adequate time, despite pressure from his supporters and followers. He said that he would nevertheless continue to serve the people of the State relentlessly.