BJP adopting Kim Jong Un model for 'seat chori' in Rajya Sabha polls: Revanth Reddy

Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday alleged that the BJP adopted the "Kim Jong Un model" to commit seat theft in the Rajya Sabha elections.

The chief minister dubbed the top BJP leadership and the returning officer in Madhya Pradesh as "conspirators" in cancelling the nomination papers of Congress RS candidate Meenakshi Natarajan in Madhya Pradesh.

Reddy alleged that after the BJP failed to commit "vote chori" in the Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, it resorted to "seat chori" by using the returning officer, whose decision to cancel Natarajan's candidature, he said, was a "blatant mistake".

"North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong Un seems to have become the role model of the BJP these days as it has adopted his model. The BJP model these days is that of Kim Jong Un, where there is only one symbol in elections in North Korea and the BJP has done the same here in Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections," Revanth Reddy told reporters here.

"The BJP indulged in 'vote chori' earlier, but now they have started indulging in 'seat chori' as they could not steal the MLAs in Madhya Pradesh," the Telangana chief minister said.

Asked to comment on the Supreme Court ruling that did not grant any relief to Congress nominee Natarajan, Reddy said, "It is not the Election Commission but the returning officer whom I am accusing."

"The returning officer is biased and is acting like a party karyakarta (worker). When the BJP does not have the numbers, how can it field the third candidate in Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha election? They were unable to do 'vote chori' and that is why they used the returning officer."

"The BJP used the returning officer as a weapon to disqualify Meenakshi Natarajan. It is unfortunate, and it is a sad part of our democracy," he alleged, claiming that "it is a blatant mistake by the officer" to have cancelled the nomination.

Reddy accused the BJP of being "anti-democratic" and "anti-women," saying that it was a fight between Gandhian and Godse's ideologies, as Natarajan happened to be a true Gandhian.

He alleged that there is no case pending against Natarajan anywhere in Telangana. In the present case by a former Congress leader, who was removed from his post and then not granted a party ticket thereafter, the court has issued summons to Natarajan only as one of the few respondents and not an accused.

"There is no case against Natarajan and even the court has not taken cognisance. The BRS and the Telangana BJP is indulging in false propaganda," he asserted, accusing the top BJP leadership, including Nitin Nabin, and the returning officer of being "conspirators."

Asked about the rebellion within the Trinamool Congress, he said there was nothing like a "floor leaders' merger" and an entire party had to merge or two-thirds of the legislators must defect to another party.

"Two-thirds of the entire party has to defect and not the floor leaders. Otherwise, it is not possible. The MPs or MLAs don't have individual capacity to merge with another party, it is only the entire party which can do so," he said.

Asked about the bonhomie shared between him and PM Modi during his meeting, Reddy said the prime minister was holding his hand, not him.

"This was the Government of India holding the hand of Telangana," he said, claiming that the Centre has to hand-hold the states for ensuring proper development.

"The Centre has to give to states. We have to work together. We also fight each other in elections," he said.

"However, opposition states are being discriminated against," he said, claiming that the only way to change this discrimination and end it is by changing the prime minister.

Reddy had met the prime minister on Thursday and met Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal on Friday and urged him to approve the Hyderabad metro project, besides approving the Polavaram project and transfer 1,500 acres of dry land of Maharashtra. Telangana also wanted the Centre to resolve the water dispute with Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, he said.

He called for early approval of the Warangal and Alibabad airports, besides coastal road connectivity, for which central funds are required.

The Telangana chief minister accused Union minister G Kishan Reddy of working towards "stalling" projects related to Telangana and not aiding in getting them through.

He questioned G Kishan Reddy for not pressing for early clearance of projects for Telangana and accused him of working at the behest of BRS leader KT Ramarao. "If his intention is clear, he should take me along and we will both work together for Telangana's progress," he said.

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