Kodandram hits back at KCR, says Telangana govt in the hands of just one family

A day after Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao lashed out against professor N Kodandaram, the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) Chairman hit back on Saturday. 

Kodandaram, who is KCR's former ally, lashed out against the Telangana CM for his 'dictatorial tendencies'.

"Governance is in the hands of one family, which was not the objective or aim of the statehood movement. It is very evident the CM does not like it if anyone questions him. During his two-hour press meet, the CM did not respond to questions raised by the TJAC but focused only on personal attacks. This was not what we fought for. We wanted a democratic Telangana state not the autocratic type of functioning," Kodandaram said.

Stating that everyone was aiming for 'Bangaru Telangana', he added that the TRS government was transforming the state into 'Appula Telangana', by borrowing over Rs 2 lakh crore in loans. 

He also lashed out at KCR for building a new house cum camp office, and not visiting the state Secretariat.

"Neither his party men, nor the general public, can get an appointment with the Chief Minister," he remarked.

Addressing media persons after a trade union affiliated to the TRS swept the polls in state-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), KCR flayed his former ally on Friday.

Calling him a 'small fellow', KCR had said, "Kodandaram is one of the thousands of workers groomed by me during the Telangana movement. It was me who set up the TJAC. But, now, Kodandaram is spewing venom on our government. He is working for the Congress." 

“Where is the need for him to continue TJAC when Telangana state was achieved? He is using TJAC as a mask.  If he wants to do politics, let him join any party and take on the TRS directly. We are ready to face him. I offered him a ticket in 2014 but he ran away. Now he has a grudge against the TRS and me and is making cheap comments every day,” KCR claimed.

Kodandaram, played an active role in the Telangana struggle for separate statehood as head of the TJAC, and was one of Chief Minister's biggest supporters. Today, he is considered one of KCR's most vocal critics.