Allot couple of LS seats to us: Ex-servicemen

Hyderabad: While political parties have almost finalised candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, over 3.5 lakh ex-servicemen in the state have urged the parties to allot a couple of seats for them.
Chairman of Telangana State Ex-servicemen Federation (TSEF), retired army officer Lt Col Bhikshapathy demanded that Congress, BRS and BJP allot tickets to them.
He said: “I wanted to contest from Bhongir Lok Sabha constituency on a BRS ticket. BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao should have considered my plea and allotted the ticket to me under the ex-servicemen quota,” Bhikshapathy said. Apparently, KCR named BC leader Kyama Mallesh as party candidate to fight from Bhongir.
“Though we made a fervent plea to the parties in the Nov 2023 assembly polls to allot tickets, no party has bothered to fulfil our demand,” Lt Col Bhikshapathy told STOI. The ex-servicemen, who served in various positions like lance naik, havaldar and lieutenant general, have made Telangana their home after their retirement.
Ex-servicemen demanded that a dedicated multi-purpose building be constructed in every district headquarters for them along with residential quarters and house sites. “One representation from our federantion in Parliament is necessary to raise our voice and to fulfil our demands,” Bhikshapathy said.
He said the Cong government in the state appointed some of its party leaders in state-run corporations. “We want an ex-servicemen corporation to resolve our issues, which are pending for the last several years,” he said.
All the ex-servicemen are willing to buy assigned lands in the form of plots through auctions at the price which the govt fixes. “TSEF is demanding the govt to allot one acre of land for the ex-servicemen association for a permanent building in Hyderabad on the lines of former BRS govt which constructed some buildings for various caste associations,” he said.
He said time has come for the parties to recognise their services and make them part of the electoral process. “We will always be soldiers but unfortunately, all the political parties have neglected us,” rued Bhikshapathy.