Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Rebel contests on `ideological grounds'

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, APRIL 13. The Telugu Desam Party rebel in the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency, Bharanikana Rama Rao, on Tuesday said he was in the fray on ideological grounds.

Denial of ticket to a Backward Class aspirant and fielding of non-locals by the TDP and other parties had forced him to contest as a rebel, he said, justifying his decision to contest against the old warhorses, M.V.V.S. Murthi (TDP) and N. Janardhan Reddy (Congress).

Mr. Rama Rao told reporters that the response to his campaign was "quite encouraging''.

He also denied the allegations of the TDP candidate for Visakha-II Assembly segment, Palla Simhachalam, that he was a Congress agent.

Mr. Rama Rao, who resigned from the post of TDP urban district president to contest the polls as a rebel against Dr. Murthi, whom he accused of denying him the TDP nomination for Visakha-II ticket, said, "For me, the Congress and the TDP are the main enemies. I will teach Dr. Murthi a fitting lesson as he treats the people of his constituency like insects and thinks that he can buy votes with money."

Mr. Rama Rao warned casteist outfits not to be puppets of those who offered them money.

"In fact, those outfits, which do not oppose the injustice done to the BCs, have no right to criticise my decision to contest as an independent." "Victory or no victory'', he would continue his fight for recognition of BCs in every sphere of life, Mr. Rama Rao said.

He said he would also try to provide an alternative forum for the workers of the TDP and other parties for getting representation in the Municipal Corporation and local body elections.

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