
Revanth invokes Telugu pride, drums up support for Justice Reddy
Revanth Reddy
Tuesday made an impassioned appeal to Telugu parties across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to rise above politics and rally behind the "son of the soil".
"It is an election between saving the Constitution, reservations, and democracy, which Justice Reddy represents, versus CP Radhakrishnan, the BJP-led NDA's candidate who stands for changing the Constitution, abolishing reservations, and undermining democratic principles," Revanth claimed.
Emphasising that Justice Reddy was an 'apolitical' candidate, Revanth urged leaders of all parties — TDP, YSRCP, BRS, AIMIM, Jana Sena, Left, and even BJP MPs from both states — to support him.
"On behalf of the Telugu people, I appeal to every party to unite on one platform to save the Constitution, reservations and democracy, and to uphold the self-respect of Telugus," he said.
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The CM highlighted Justice Reddy's humble beginnings in a Telugu farming family, and his rise to serve as chief justice of various high courts and later as a judge of the Supreme Court. "He is a legal luminary and a constitutional expert who will safeguard not only the Constitution and democracy but also reservations, which are under attack from BJP," he said.
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Revanth reminded that Justice Reddy had chaired the independent panel that studied Telangana's caste survey. "If he is elected vice-president, he will play a crucial role in getting 42% reservations for OBCs approved. He knows the survey in depth and has advised the state govt on ensuring justice for backward classes. He will be the strongest voice of OBCs in Parliament," he asserted.
To questions on his role in finalising the candidature, Revanth said: "Justice Reddy is INDIA bloc's choice.
He gave a presentation on caste survey analysis to MPs in Delhi, and they recognised his worth as a constitutional expert."
Though both the NDA and the INDIA bloc candidates are from the South, Revanth accused BJP of trying to deepen north-south divides. "Congress and the INDIA bloc are fighting to unite the country. At least the 60 MPs — 42 in the Lok Sabha and 18 in the Rajya Sabha — from the two Telugu states must come together to support Justice Reddy," he said.
BOX: Drawing on NTR's legacy
Chief minister A Revanth Reddy invoked former Andhra Pradesh CM N T Rama Rao's statesmanship while appealing to all Telugu parties to back Justice (retd.) B Sudershan Reddy's candidature. "I appeal to Chandrababu Naidu, K Chandrasekhar Rao, Jagan Mohan Reddy, Pawan Kalyan, Asaduddin Owaisi and Left leaders to take inspiration from NTR, who refused to field a candidate against P V Narasimha Rao in Nandyal when Rao became prime minister.
Let us protect the pride and honour of the Telugu people in the same spirit," he urged. Revanth said he would "most likely" attend the nomination event of Justice Reddy in Delhi.
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