Congress Party Member of Parliament traded barbs with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on stage at an event.
Telugu Desam Party leaders tried to grab Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy's mic after the YSRCP leader gave credit to former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy for the Gandikota irrigation project, stating that 85% of the project was completed during his tenure.
He made this statement at a gram sabha, chaired by the Chief Minister, at Pulivendula, as part of the Janma Bhoomi programme.
Even as Avinash continued speaking about how the people "will never forget the contributions made by YSR", some TDP men tried snatching his microphone.
Following this, the Chief Minister intervened and stopped the YSRCP MP's speech.
“This is not a political meeting; it is a government programme. I can proudly say I have ensured water to Pulivendula even before my hometown, Kuppam, but I did not speak about it,” Naidu told the MP, as the YSRCP leader tried to continue speaking.
“I came here not for your votes. I am here to take stock of development, so that I can meet my target of turning Rayalaseema into a horticultural hub by providing adequate water to the drought-prone region. If you want to praise your leaders, you can do it in your party meetings. But don’t use the government programme as a venue for lauding your leaders and to claim credit for government schemes. In fact, people know who has done what,’’ Naidu was quoted as saying.
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Later in the day, YSRCP President YS Jaganmohan Reddy lashed out at Chandrababu for taking credit for those projects initiated by YSR.
“Many water projects and schemes had, in fact, been initiated by YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Most of them were on the verge of completion with over 80% of the work done. The TDP government has not been able to complete the remaining work because of corruption. I would bring back Rajanna Rajyam if the YSRCP is voted to power in the 2019 elections with the blessings of people,” he was quoted as saying.