Hans News Service Visakhapatnam

FormerRajya Sabha member V Vijayasai Reddy emphasised the need to introduce an alternative party to break the rule of family-run political parties such as TDP and YSRCP.

Expressing displeasure over the family-run political parties that did nothing concrete for the State at a media conference in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, Vijayasai Reddy stated that Andhra Pradesh is witnessing only caste-based politics and that the reins of administration have been largely shared between ‘Kamma’ and ‘Christianity’ communities.

The former MP asserted this is the very reason that coaxed him to float a party after being inactive in politics for quite a while. “Gen Z is going to play a proactive role in our party. 66 Percent of the posts will be earmarked for the youth, while half of them would be reserved for women,” he assured.

Announcing that he would soon take up a ‘padayatra,’ the former MP informed that he would start the trek from North Andhra, which is close to his heart, to highlight the region’s long-standing issues and get closure to its people. “Once we come to power, we will certainly block the privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Also, the capacities of reservoirs will be increased and closed sugar factories will be revived,” he asserted.

For the sake of gaining berths in the Union cabinet, Vijayasai Reddy pointed out that State interests have been set aside. For now, he remarked that the target for both HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is to become Chief Minister. “Although, I am not aspiring for the Chief Minister’s post by floating the party, Andhra Pradesh, however, needs a Chief Minister who has ‘guts’ to place development above self-centred interests,” the former MP opined.

Pointing out the claims made by YSRCP leaders against his alleged amassing of assets, Vijayasai Reddy brushed them aside stating, “Unlike their allegations that I have properties across North Andhra, I own only an apartment block in Visakhapatnam. Other than that, I don’t own any other property in Vizag. However, the YSRCP leaders continue to spread false propaganda against me.”

The former MP lamented that YSRCP failed in making Visakhapatnam the capital of AP and needs to tender an apology to the North Andhra people for deceiving them with unkept promises. “It is strange that the YSRCP is now chanting another unreasonable slogan: ‘MAVIGUN’,” he remarked.

Declaring that his party would be floated during Dasara, the former MP maintained that it would not ally with any other party.