Even as speculation is rife that the Telangana government wants the Election Commission to conduct early polls, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao is all set to leave for New Delhi, accompanied by senior officers on Friday Evening.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, KCR will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union Ministers to discuss various pending issues concerned to the state.
“The Chief Minister is of the view, that, despite several appeals from the State Government the response from the Union government is not as expected. The CM has decided to go to Delhi personally and stay there for couple of days and meet the PM and other Ministers to discuss the issues and get approvals. The important issue among all is the long pending approval of the Zonal system to be created in Telangana. Due to the non-clearance of zonal system by the central government, delay is taking place in the recruitment of Panchayath Secretaries and others,” the statement said.
Besides the Zonal System, other issues that are going to come up for discussion include release of Rs. 450 crores for the development of Backward Districts, release of Central Share of interest on the loans to be given to Women Societies and farmers, bifurcation of High Court, funds for a regional Ring Road and allotment of Defence lands for building a new secretariat.
While there was no mention of early polls in the CMO’s statement, it is still likely to come up during the talks.
“The CM is of the view that when he meets the Prime Minister he should make a mention to him regarding the cold-hearted attitude of the central government on issues pertaining to the state. CM will be appealing to the PM to take initiative to solve the issues at once in the interest of the state,” the CMO statement added.
Chief Secretary SK Joshi, Finance Principal Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, Principal Secretary to CM Narsing Rao will accompany KCR to New Delhi.
Meanwhile, Chief Advisor to Telangana, Rajiv Sharma, who has been camping in New Delhi on Thursday met with Central Election Commissioner Ashok Lavas, to discuss the possibility of conducting early polls.
In June this year, KCR said that the leaders of his party and even people were ready for early elections. He exuded confidence that TRS will win over 100 seats in 119-member state assembly.
Elections to Telangana assembly are scheduled in April-May next year along with Lok Sabha polls but ever since the TRS chief's earlier meetings with PM Modi, there have been reports of the polls being advanced.