This is really shocking to see that popular media has been writing negative stories on ministers who are in power, especially the Minister for Cinematography, Roads and Buildings, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, a few days ago, and today on Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, the Deputy CM of Telangana state.
It is known that a popular media outlet NTV hinted that a Nalgonda-based minister had an illegal affair with a lady IAS officer, which shook the entire state.
Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, the Nalgonda-based minister, held a press meet and lamented emotionally. Later, a formal action for namesake was taken against some journalist and the editor of that channel.
Today, Andhra Jyothi spread a news against Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, the Deputy CM. The daily stated that there is an interesting analysis regarding the coal block tender controversy in Telangana, alleging that Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has a corrupted role in allocating coal blocks to certain companies.
To this, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka fired at ABN Radha Krishna for getting such articles written against him. He said that he is not someone who came out of nowhere and that he fought for 40 years inside and outside the Assembly, and that spreading such cheap and degrading political stories does not reflect his character.
He further stated that ABN Radhakrishna may have affection for some leaders (indirectly hinting Chandrababu Naidu and Revanth Reddy), or that these stories may have been written against him because he was close to Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
Here, the point to be underlined is that Revanth Reddy went to ABN Radhakrishna’s house a few days back to wish him a happy New Year by giving a bouquet. A Chief Minister going to a media person’s house to wish him is indeed shocking. Soon after that, this story on Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka came to light.
Though Revanth Reddy’s hand may or may not be there, it is obvious to suspect his involvement in spoiling the image of senior Congress leaders who are in positions under him.
Whether true or not, such media attacks on senior Congress leaders certainly raise suspicion on Revanth Reddy.
There is also a suspicion that media houses, with the vigor to please Revanth Reddy, never go against him but target certain ministers.
Whether true or not, Revanth Reddy’s leadership of the party is raising questions about whether he intends to dismantle the structure of the Congress and monopolize it under his control. When Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy was in power, he protected the image of all ministers and MLAs. He stood firmly by his cabinet and party legislators, acting as a strong shield against attacks. Revanth Reddy seems to be completely opposite in this matter.