A Transition Born of Emotional Turmoil
At a massive public meeting in Jagtial, senior politician Jeevan Reddy formally joined the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the presence of party chief K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). Addressing the gathering, a visibly emotional Reddy shared that he had endured significant mental agony over the past 20 months due to discrimination within the Congress party. Despite four decades of dedicated service and “shedding blood” for the party’s growth, he expressed that he was met with humiliation in the later stages of his career. He stated that he could no longer continue in an environment devoid of respect and has chosen to walk alongside KCR, who offered him a “hand of friendship” and a new direction in his public life.
Critique of the Congress Administration
Jeevan Reddy launched a sharp critique of the current Congress government, accusing it of dismantling the successful welfare framework established by the previous BRS regime. He specifically highlighted the “Rythu Bandhu” scheme, claiming the government has failed to provide financial support to farmers, leaving them in distress. Furthermore, he took aim at the “Kalyana Lakshmi” scheme, noting that while the Congress promised to add a gold ornament (Tulam Bangaram) to the existing ₹1 lakh benefit, they have failed to properly implement even the base scheme. He described the current administration as a “burden” on the state and asserted that his move to BRS was motivated by a desire to rid the state of such failures.
Commitment to Jagtial’s Development
The veteran leader also praised KCR’s visionary leadership, particularly regarding the transformation of the Jagtial region. He credited the BRS chief with making Jagtial a separate district and establishing a medical college to bring healthcare closer to the people. Reddy cited several key projects, such as the allocation of ₹70 crore for the Bornapalli project and the enhancement of tribal reservations, as evidence of KCR’s commitment to progress. Clarifying that his switch was not for the sake of positions or power, Jeevan Reddy vowed to work with the “charioteer of the Telangana movement” to contribute actively to the ongoing reconstruction of the state.
