Telangana caretaker IT minister KT Rama Rao on Friday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the union government didn't do much for the state over the last four years, adding that his popularity was dwindling. Stating that the Centre didn't address many issues in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, KTR said that the NDA would not get a majority in the Lok Sabha and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) would play in important role in the 2019 elections.
“Modi's graph is coming down. We made several representations to the PM during the past four years on several issues concerning Telangana. But he did nothing. Our repeated requests on Hyderabad ITIR and Bayyaram Steel Plant were ignored.What we got from the Centre was less than what Telangana contributed to the Centre as taxes. Time has come for the people to decide whether they want those who do 'ghulami' for Delhi or want KCR as CM," the caretaker Minister was quoted as saying.
The Minister also took potshots at the Telangana unit of the Congress and party President Rahul Gandhi.
“Congress claimed it will win in Assembly elections in UP and Karnataka and Rahul Gandhi campaigned with all his might. They lost. Now the party is claiming they will win in Telangana as well. So the conclusion is that once Rahul Gandhi campaigns anywhere, the party loses there. Congress might have dubbed Rahul Gandhi as a ‘ray of hope’ for the country, but Gandhi does not know the basics of politics," KTR told reporters.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao dissolved the state Assembly on September 6 to pave way for early elections. The elections are likely to be held in November or December.
While the TRS has released its list of candidates, opposition parties in the state including the TDP, Congress, TJS and CPI have formed a grand alliance.