Andhra Pradesh industry minister T G Bharat, who generally maintains low profile and is confined to his work, appears to have lost his cool following the alleged interference of some of the leaders form the coalition partners of the Telugu Desam Party in his Kurnool constituency.
Speaking at a meeting, Bharat said he would continue as a minister as long as the TDP remains in power.
He said his performance was well known to chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and minister Nara Lokesh, regardless of what others may say.
Issuing a stern warning, Bharat said any attempt to provoke trouble in his constituency would invite serious consequences.
He declared that he would not tolerate interference and cautioned leaders against stepping into his political turf.
“Serve the people who elected you. If you try to dominate my constituency, my strategies and actions will make you irrelevant,” he reportedly said.
Bharat also claimed that development had gained momentum across the state after the coalition government assumed office.
He accused the previous YSRCP government of burdening the public, recalling that electricity tariffs were increased nine times during its tenure.
He credited Chandrababu Naidu for deciding that the government would bear the power burden to protect consumers.
The minister’s remarks have triggered intense political discussion in Kurnool district, with speculation rife over whom his warnings were directed at and whether they amounted to an indirect political signal to rivals within or outside the party.
Apparently, Bharat is unhappy with the interference of some senior TDP leaders and BJP leaders in the government programmes in Kurnool, trying to sideline him, as he is a first time MLA and first time minister.