cld.Naidu completely neglected Guntur city: Modugula

Guntur: The battle for Guntur Lok Sabha seat is a tussle between two industrialists—YSRC’s Modugula Venugopala Reddy and TDP’s Galla Jayadev .

The ‘giant-killer’ Modugula’s entry has created ripples in TDP camp. Incidentally, Modugula is the first Reddy candidate to stake claim to Guntur seat in its long history.

Excerpts from an interview with Modugula, who filed his nomination papers on Friday.

Q: What are the chances of your victory?

A: I am confident that I will win the election. People are just waiting for the polling day.

Q: TDP’s Galla Jayadev seeking votes claiming he fought against Narendra Modi. Your views?

A: It is a joke to claim that he fought with PM. He addressed Modi as Mr PM. There is no abuse. What he doesn’t know is that people in Guntur used to read English newspapers during the freedom movement and he can’t fool them. If calling Modi as Mr. Prime Minister is itself a fight, how would you rate my fight with Telangana MPs during the Lok Sabha clearing the AP reorganization bill? Despite facing physical abuse, TDP denied me ticket to contest another Lok Sabha election in 2014.

Q: What about Galla Jayadev’s contribution to the constituency?

A: I demand him to release a white paper as to how many days he spent in Guntur in the last five years. He is the most inaccessible leader in the state. He is more interested in developing his business, not the constituency. I challenge him to tell the names of all the mandals in the constituency. He ditched Guntur by setting up industries in Chittoor.

Q: Galla is saying that TDP became weak only due to fielding candidates like you in the last elections. You were TDP MLA till recently. How do you take this?

A: Galla can’t come to Brodipet if we leave him in neighbouring Arundelpet. Expecting him to analyse the party’s strengths and weaknesses is beyond imagination. What has he achieved for Guntur the Centre? He roamed around as the Union minister for surface transport to get funds for a small road that had to be completed by the CRDA. That was his contribution.

Q: Did Guntur city get its due during the TDP regime?

A: The CM completely neglected Guntur city. He has not cleared even a single proposal put forwarded by me. They are interested only in real estate business in around the capital city. The CM changed nine municipal commissioners in 5 years.

Q: What is your agenda for Guntur constituency?

A: Achieving SCS to AP is our first priority. We will try to get chilli board to Guntur. Will bring spices board to Guntur. Achieve Metro train project for Guntur. We will also bring separate sub-plan for muslim minorities welfare.