Former Health Minister of Telangana Etala Rajender today resigned from the post of Huzurabad MLA.
Reports say that Rajender had to hand over his resignation letter to Assembly Secretary V Narasimha Charyulu instead of to Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy as he was unable to go to the Assembly due to the ongoing pandemic.
After receiving the letter, Charyulu issued a notification about the vacancy in Huzurabad, paving the way for by-elections in the constituency. He also informed Election Commission to take note of the same.
Speaking to the media amidst loud cheering from his supporters at the Assembly media point, the leader alleged that the security personnel deployed on the Assembly premises had not allowed his supporters to accompany him beyond the Assembly building's gates, and that the officials of the state had effectively "destroyed" the traditions and laws of the Assembly by resorting to "such cheap tactics".
He also said that the leaders of the ruling party, including Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, were threatening the people of Huzurabad by telling them that their welfare benefits would be stopped if they did not continue to vote for the TRS.
"The fight in Huzurabad is between money-filled bags and the ideals of justice. Though the ruling party is leaving no stone unturned to secure its interests in the region, I too will continue to fight against the party's unjust ways. Even my DNA will fight against the dictatorial tendencies of the CM. Neither detentions nor arrests are new to me and if I have to face such situations in my fight against KCR's rule, then I am ready to so. The self-respect of the people will win," the former minister asserted.
Expressing his gratitude for the support the people of his constituency had given to him, he added, "It is the people of my constituency who have for so long allowed me to represent them - I have been their representative for the last 17 years. I had even fought against the leaders of united Andhra Pradesh in the Assembly for their sake. And although I got the B-form for the Huzurabad seat from the TRS, it was the people of my constituency who ensured my victory. The upcoming by-election in Huzurabad will be a fight between KCR's family and the people of Telangana. I am confident that the will of the people will prevail."
On the occasion, Rajender also announced that he would hold a padayatra in the region soon.
With his resignation out of the way, the leader will now join the BJP. He had already been welcomed into the party by
state BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar and
state party in-charge Tarun Chugh.