Medak bypoll: TRS should debate on issues, says BJP nominee

Hyderabad, Sep 1: In a war of words between TRS and BJP-TDP combine in the run-up for the Medak bypoll, BJP nominee T Jayaprakash Reddy on Monday said the TRS leaders should stop attacking him and debate on issue of development instead.

"Instead saying that I was an integrationist and trying to provoke people, they (TRS) should debate on development, on what I can do (for development)," Jayaprakash Reddy, popularly known as Jagga Reddy, told reporters here. The bypoll, scheduled for September 13 was necessitated with the resignation of TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao after he became Telangana Chief Minister.

The by-election is witnessing a multi-cornered contest among candidates of BJP-TDP combine, ruling TRS and main opposition Congress. BJP, contesting on behalf of the TDP-BJP alliance, sprang a surprise by fielding Jayaprakash Reddy who was a Congress MLA from 2009-2014.

He was, however, with BJP earlier. TRS is keen on retaining the seat as it was vacated by its president, which is also his native district. The ruling party has fielded K Prabhakar Reddy in the bypoll. Meanwhile, Congress will try to salvage its prestige by winning the bypoll. Former minister V Sunita Laxma Reddy is the Congress candidate in the election.

PTI