The Telangana Congress on Sunday lashed out at the ruling-TRS in the state and the party's decision to hold a massive meeting at the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Addressing reporters in Banjara Hills in the city. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief Uttam Kumar Reddy called the TRS meeting a 'flop'.
"For all the hype that was created, all the people in Telangana saw that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's speech flopped," Uttam said.
Several lakh people from across Telangana congregated at Kongara Kalan village in the outskirts of Hyderabad on Sunday for a public meeting – ‘Pragathi Nivedana' – being organised by the TRS.
Busloads of people continued to pour in, as 7,300 of the total 12,000 RTC buses in the state were hired by the party to transport people to the venue. Thousands of tractors also reached the venue a day in advance. This is in addition to hundreds of private vehicles that came in carrying people.
"Is it fair for a political party to use the state's RTC buses? They have also threatened the managements of many schools and colleges to use their private buses, to ferry people for the event," Uttam Kumar alleged.
The city was painted pink by the TRS on Sunday by putting up banners, flags, KCR’s cut-outs, billboards, balloons and festoons on all roads leading towards the venue and at all intersections.
"The same Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) which tore down our cut-outs and billboards when Rahul Gandhi was visiting Telangana, is now standing near them and protecting them from coming down. The same Municipal Minister KT Rama Rao who speaks against hoardings, is quiet now. It is a shame," Uttam said.
Alleging that the TRS spent Rs 300 crore for the event, the Telangana Congress chief questioned the huge expenditure and asked if the money was ‘snatched’ from the people of the state.
Taking to Twitter later, Uttam said, “If only KCR spent as much money on fixing potholes instead of fixing his posters, we would be living in a much safer and better Hyderabad. This money is better utilised for any welfare activities such as building a hospital, building houses etc. But we can’t expect KCR to prioritise people’s needs over his personal interests.”
“The meeting was nothing but a display of CM’s deep insecurity and a total loss of confidence in the cabinet and his MLAs. A pathetic attempt at reassuring himself. But, the wise people of Telangana won’t forgive him,” Uttam Kumar said.
తీస్ మార్ ఖాన్ అనుకుంటే తుస్సుమనిపించిండు KCR.
— Uttam Kumar Reddy (@UttamTPCC) September 2, 2018
The meeting was nothing but a display of CM’s deep insecurity & a total loss of confidence in the cabinet & his MLAs. A pathetic attempt at reassuring himself. But, the wise people of Telangana won’t forgive him. #KCRFailedTelangana
Besides being a show of strength for the assembly polls, the rally is being seen as an effort by KCR to project his presence on the national political stage for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, as the Chief Minister is keen to forge a federal front of non-BJP, non-Congress parties and play a pivotal role in government formation after the 2019 elections.
The TRS leadership appears keen that the assembly polls are held by December along with elections to four other states as it would give it time to strategise for Lok Sabha polls.
The term of assembly ends in June and elections in normal course will be held along with next year's general elections.
Party leaders feel that the opposition Congress is not adequately prepared for an early election and the holding the election in November-December will keep the narrative firmly on the development work done by KCR government.
If assembly polls are held with Lok Sabha polls, the narrative may also be impacted with national issues.
IANS inputs