Hyderabad: Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Sunday celebrated the victory of M Raji Reddy of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) union elections, calling it a reflection of growing support among workers and employees for the Congress party. He also expressed confidence that the party would replicate this success in the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.
Congress Flag Hoisted in Water Board
Addressing a felicitation programme for Raji Reddy at Gandhi Bhavan, Mahesh Goud said, “We have hoisted the Congress flag (INTUC) in the Water Board, which was firmly under the influence of former minister T Harish Rao of the BRS. We will repeat this success in the upcoming GHMC elections.” The TPCC chief alleged that during the previous BRS government’s tenure, organisations such as the Water Board and Singareni Collieries were kept under their political control, preventing workers and employees from freely expressing their concerns or criticising the government.
RTC Strike Resolution Highlighted
Referring to the RTC strike during the previous regime, Mahesh Goud said it continued for 54 days because the BRS government failed to respond to the workers’ genuine demands. “Under the leadership of chief minister A Revanth Reddy, however, the RTC strike was resolved within three days after the government held discussions with union leaders,” he said. “This is the difference between the previous BRS government and the incumbent Congress government. Workers are now free to exercise their voting rights and elect leaders of their choice,” he added.
Appeal to Union Leaders
Mahesh Goud urged M Raji Reddy and his team to stand by the workers and address their issues within HMWSSB. He also assured that he would personally bring worker-related concerns to the notice of the chief minister whenever intervention at the government level was required. Earlier, Congress workers celebrated the victory by bursting firecrackers, while Raji Reddy arrived at Gandhi Bhavan in a rally accompanied by party cadres.
