The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Raghuveera ‘ready’ for Allu Arvind’s challenge

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Raghuveera ‘ready’ for Allu Arvind’s challenge

Minister had dismissed Chiru party as run-of-the-mill

HYDERABAD: Stung by a harsh remark made by Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy recently, the proposed political party of actor Chiranjeevi plans to field a strong candidate against the Minister wherever he contests from, to ensure his defeat.

This challenge was thrown by none other than Allu Arvind, brother-in-law of Chiranjeevi, during a face-to-face with the Minister aboard a flight en route Tirupati earlier this week. Mr. Reddy himself narrated the sequence of events that took place during his trip to Tirupati.

‘Harsh remark’

He had earlier dismissed the proposed party of Chiranjeevi as a run-of-the-mill outfit. “I was sitting in the aircraft, when Mr. Arvind walked up to me and regretted the harsh remark I had made against the new political party,” Mr. Reddy said.

Quoting Mr. Arvind, he said: “He told me that nobody had made such a remark ever since the talk of the new party began.” The Minister maintained that he immediately reminded him about the subsequent remark that Chiranjeevi would replace the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

Immediately, Mr. Arvind asked from where the Minister was planning to contest as his Madaksira constituency was reserved. “I am planning to contest from Rayadurgam,” he said adding that Mr. Arvind had asserted that his party would field a strong candidate to ensure his defeat.

‘Most welcome’

“He is most welcome to field the candidate as the strength of Congress and the TDP in Anantapur is almost equal. If a third strong candidate enters the fray, the Opposition votes will be split ensuring my easy victory,” Mr. Reddy remarked.

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