Hyderabad: Fresh from the landslide win in the Assembly election, TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao is upbeat that the party win all the 16 seats in the state and its ally MIM one. This is possible due to the impeccable governance of TRS supremo and chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao whose welfare and development schemes have become role model for various states and the country, Mr Rama Rao said in an exclusive interview to The Asian Age.
Stating that the time had come for a change in national politics and that he was sure that a non-BJP non-Congress Federal Front would emerge, Mr Rama Rao said Mr Chandrasekhar Rao, who had achieved statehood for Telangana and was twice elected chief minister, had all the qualities and capabilities to become Prime Minister and set the tone for a new era.
“My personal opinion is he should lead the state for another 10 to 15 years,” Mr Rama Rao added.
Asserting that coalition governments would continue to stay, he said that between the Rafale and Bofors sagas of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, a non-BJP non-Congress coalition would emerge with 150 to 170 Lok Sabha seats.
Taking a swipe against Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Mr Rama Rao said, “AP people will retire him. Forget spinning “chakram” (kingmaker) in New Delhi, Naidu can’t even spin a “bongaram” (spinning top) in Vijayawada.”
On the “return gift” to Mr Naidu, he said with a laugh that it had become a popular term and said, “Wait till May 23”.
He said political defections were quite common during the elections, and pointed out that a TRS MP and 4 MLCs had joined the Congress before the Assembly polls.
“The Congress calls to save democracy. The party which imposed Emergency was the Congress. Now it talks about democracy. Congress not only talks of save democracy, but also accuses us of purchasing MLAs as if they are commodities…cattle. I might ask same question to Congress. I saw Congress President Rahul Gandhi putting a tricolour scarf on a BJP leader. For how much you (Mr Gandhi) have bought for?
Stop the bakwas. All MLAs who joined TRS have asserted they will resign from the Assembly as per the rule,” he said.
Mr Rama Rao said they party had denied tickets to some sitting MPs for “100 reasons” and would have been rewarded later if they had stayed put in the party.
Blaming the Centre for the farmers’ woes in Nizamabad since the MSP is decided by it, he alleged that part of the agitation was politically motivated. “We will face it. Congress, BJP leaders are involved and want to confuse voters in Armoor and Balkonda. There is no threat to TRS as such,” he said.
On Mr Naidu whipping up sentiments against Telangana and Mr Chandrasekhar Rao, he said it would have worked if the TS Chief Minister had worked against Andhra interests. “KCR helped victims of Cyclone Hudhud, went to Amaravati to greet people on the occasion of foundation stone for the new capital. If Andhra voters were against KCR, we would not have won GHMC or Hyderabad elections. Its telling commentary on how Andhra people are happy in Telangana,” he added.
