Damodar vows to live up to Dy CM's responsibility, thanks Sonia, CM

Minister for Agriculture and Higher Education Damodar Rajanarasimha on Thursday expressed his gratitude to All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for selecting him to be the Deputy Chief Minister, while emphatically maintaining that the government has the requisite ‘strength’ to face the No Trust Motion.

Mr Rajanarasimha was addressing media persons to talk about the No Trust Motion introduced by the Telugu Desam Party when he was interrupted by a reporter who wanted his reaction to the news of his name being confirmed as the next Deputy Chief Minister.

The reporter told him that the Minister has been named Deputy Chief Minister based on a message sent by his confirmed sources.

Initially, Mr Rajanarasimha feigned innocence but later accepted the message and thanked Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for reposing their faith in him and giving him the responsibility.

“It is a rare chance to a Dalit,” he said, adding “I am happy over the decision of the Chief Minister and the High Command.”

“The party had identified me and gave me the responsibility,” he said and added that he would rise to the occasion and live up to the confidence.

Stating that it was his fortune for having been named as Deputy Chief Minister, particularly being a Dalit, Mr Rajanarasimha asserted that it was a social responsibility and as per the changes that the people desired.

Not only that, the decision to select a Dalit for the said post was more a daring act and decision, he stated.

“It was now my responsibility to live up to the confidence and expectations of those who had placed a high responsibility on my shoulders,” the Minister maintained and added that he would strive his best to deliver the goods.

 Commenting on the No Trust Move, the Minister made clear that the cited ‘Motion’ was quite natural and it came at a time when the opposition thought it fit to introduce in the given situation.

The government had not only the given strength to face the Motion but it was also responsible for the government to counter it effectively, he stated.

The state Assembly was the supreme body where decisions were taken and the opposition had their right to move the said Motion in a democratic set-up, Mr Rajanarasimha observed. 

“Besides, as the top most body consisting of public representatives, the House also could give directions, suggestions and indications on various aspects for the benefit of the people,” Mr Rajanarasimha said.