KTR says Congress failure highlights need for alternative to BJP and Congress
Hyderabad: BRS working president K T Rama Rao (KTR) said the Congress’s failure to challenge the BJP had strengthened the case for an alternative to BJP and Congress. He backed the non-Congress, non-BJP alliance proposed earlier by BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). KTR made the remarks at a meeting in Amberpet.
He argued that the Congress lacked a clear agenda to counter the BJP. According to KTR, parties outside the two national parties would gain greater political importance. He predicted that KCR would return as Telangana Chief Minister after a brief period under the current government. KTR also said KCR would play a key role in national politics.
Turning to state representation, KTR criticised Telangana’s Congress and BJP MPs. He alleged they had failed to protect the state’s interests in Parliament. He further claimed that some voters who felt misled by the Congress were now turning towards the BRS.
KTR accused the Congress government of failing farmers and mishandling electricity and water issues. He said power shortages were affecting farmers despite experts warning about El Niño ten months earlier. The government had not taken adequate steps to protect water supplies, he alleged.
Alternative to BJP and Congress amid farm and water concerns
Referring to irrigation projects in neighbouring states, KTR claimed their governments had taken steps to store water. Telangana, however, had failed to adopt similar measures. He further alleged that the government had not operated the Kaleshwaram project’s pumps because doing so could give KCR political credit. KTR also accused the Congress of spreading misinformation about the Medigadda barrage.
On public sentiment, KTR said dissatisfaction with the government extended across social groups. Residents were facing drinking water and electricity problems, while farmers were struggling, he claimed. He alleged that the Congress had come to power through misleading publicity. The party had also failed to honour promises made to different sections of society, he said.
The BRS leader questioned the government’s willingness to hold elections to mandal parishad territorial constituencies (MPTCs), zilla parishad territorial constituencies (ZPTCs) and municipal corporations. He expressed confidence that the BRS would repeat its success in corporation elections, citing the party’s performance in 2017.
KTR urged party workers to coordinate voter registration and campaigning for the upcoming graduate MLC elections. He alleged that the Congress was relying on money power in the contest. In addition, he accused the ruling party of failing to fulfil promises to students, unemployed people and young voters under its Youth Declaration.
According to KTR, graduates would hold the Congress accountable in the elections. He also alleged that the Congress and BJP had joined forces to criticise KCR despite their rivalry at the national level.
Reiterating his call for a national political alternative, KTR said the Congress’s performance had strengthened the case for a coalition outside both national parties. He argued that Telangana’s interests and the country’s political direction required an alternative to BJP and Congress.