Telangana CM Chandrasekhara Rao has given hints that his party is not taking part in the massive rally being organised by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Saturday. The reason for this is that the TRS does not want to share any dais with AP CM Chandrababu Naidu. It is known Naidu is playing a crucial role in forming an anti-BJP front at the national level. KCR has been invited for Mamata Banerjee’s rally because of which his party has to take a decision not to attend.
The TDP leaders say KCR cannot attend the anti-BJP rally in Kolkata just because he is a puppet in the hands of Modi-Shah duo in national politics. Already, KCR is facing criticism from all sections that he is forming the Federal Front only to divide anti-BJP parties thereby spoiling the chances of the Congress party.
The TDP feels that it is just a pretext that KCR is giving as to why he is staying away from the Mamata rally. Over 20 political parties are being represented at the Kolkata rally for which Chandrababu Naidu, DMK leader Stalin, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav and others have reached Kolkata. The Mamata rally is being seen as a show of strength by the anti-BJP parties ahead of the coming general election. Mamata’s party has not taken KCR seriously since they know that TRS has secret understanding with the BJP.
Hyderabad: The decision to get Vanteru Prathapa Reddy into TRS fold is raising several eyebrows over the possible strategy of Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao behind this move. The immediate impact of Vanteru’s joining TRS will be on local political dimension and T Harish Rao’s role in the Gajwel constituency.
Harish Rao—KCR’s nephew, former irrigation minister and Siddipet MLA– has been looking after Gajwel constituency on behalf of TRS supremo. Once Vanteru is given the responsibility of Gajwel constituency, we can’t see any major role of Harish Rao here, forecasts a political analyst.
According to party sources, KCR may contest for Lok Sabha to make his mission Federal Front happen. This will result in a by-election in Gajwel Constituency.
“If KCR doesn’t contest from Gajwel constituency, Vanteru’s win is almost certain. This is the reason, maybe KCR doesn’t want to lose chief minister’s constituency to Congress in case Vanteru wins in the by-election,” he observed.
TRS party cadres also agree that there’s no strong candidate to defeat Vanteru, who gave a tough fight to KCR. Vanteru contested from Gajwel constituency in 2014 on TDP ticket and in 2018 on Congress ticket.
KCR in December 2018 elections won against Vanteru with a majority of 58,200 votes. KCR had garnered 60.45 per cent vote share and Vanteru got 32.36 per cent.
“Since there’s no strong candidate in TRS party after KCR to defeat Vanteru if by-election takes place, maybe the TRS supremo decided to get him into his side. We heard that KCR may offer him MLC post. In case, KCR contests as MP, then Vanteru is most probably the TRS MLA candidate in Gajwel,” said a TRS leader from Gajwel.
Vanteru Pratap Reddy is one of those Congress candidates who gave a tough fight to the TRS in recent elections. He contested against CM Chandrasekhara Rao in Gajwel assembly segment but lost to KCR eventually. Prior to the polls, Vanteru raised a lot of complaints and criticism against TRS leaders which turned into big controversies. He hit headlines when he said how Harish Rao wanted KCR to lose the election since he was unhappy with his maternal uncle.
Such a strong Congress leader has now decided to join TRS. Vanteru has announced he is joining the TRS party at the request of CM KCR and in the interests of the people of his constituency. On why he has taken such a step, Vanteru says he has lost many elections in Gajwel as the people have obviously favoured KCR leadership for all his developmental and welfare programmes being implemented across the state.
Vanteru recalled how the TRS leaders have invited him to join their party prior to the election itself. But at that time, he decided to continue his fight along political lines. Now that KCR has become CM again, it will be helpful to bring in greater development in Gajwel segment. Vanteru’s exit is indeed a big jolt to the Congress leadership which may find it difficult to get anybody to contest against KCR in next election.
AP CM Chandrababu Naidu is continuing a scathing attack on rivals. He says Jagan, KCR and Modi are targetting AP like eagles prey on their victims. The AP people should be extra vigilant to safeguard the state from these evil influences.
Naidu took strong objection to KCR trying to use the YCP to damage the prospects of AP people. He says Jagan and KCR are just puppets in the hands of PM Modi. These three Modis together are trying to capture AP and plunder its resources like eagles. The leaders of BJP, YCP and TRS are desperate to harm and crush the TDP immediately and occupy AP.
The BJP and the YCP are contesting the coming election separately in AP. But it’s an open fact these two parties have a close bond. This is what CBN is highlighting at every opportunity to put the facts before the people and prevent Jagan from taking political benefits. The close links with KCR and Modi are going to prove big disadvantages to Jagan in the election year.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was jealous of Andhra Pradesh and hence was behind the proposed Federal Front of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao.
Reacting to the meeting of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders with YSR Congress Party President Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy to discuss the proposed front, Naidu said that “jealous people were coming together under a conspiracy against Andhra Pradesh”.
During a teleconference with leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), he said Modi was jealous of his state as it was making rapid progress.
According to TDP sources, the TDP chief said Modi was afraid that the southern state might overtake Gujarat in development.
He alleged that TRS President Chandrashekhar Rao was also against Andhra Pradesh’s development and afraid of his own inefficiency while Jaganmohan Reddy was scared that he might have to go to jail in corruption cases.
Claiming that KCR’s Federal Front was not getting a response from any party, he said this was the reason his son K.T. Rama Rao met Jagan in a hurry.
“With this meeting the nexus between them is exposed,” said Naidu, who was trying to play anchor to an anti-BJP front at the national level.
Naidu also remarked that the three parties were attacking Andhra Pradesh like vultures. He alleged that they were trying to create a rift among various communities and castes in his state.
The TDP chief alleged that the Federal Front was aimed at implementing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s agenda. He said the BJP was trying to ensure that the parties against it do not unite.
“It wants to create confusion among people. It wants to split anti-BJP votes,” he said.
KCR’s son Rama Rao, who is also the Working President of the TRS, met Jagan in Hyderabad on Wednesday to discuss the Federal Front proposed as an alternative to both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
KCR plans to visit Andhra Pradesh soon for further talks with Jagan, whose YSR Congress is the main opposition party in Andhra Pradesh.
There are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. The visuals are still afresh. The TRS and the activists of Telangana movement held a massive resistance to Jagan’s tour of Mahabubabad as part of his Odarpu yatra to console the families who lost their loved once after the sudden demise of YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The TRS called Jagan a traitor and an enemy of Telangana . YS Rajasekhara Reddy who was the stumbling block to the formation of Telangana separate state pooh-poohed TRS MLAs. He has even engineered splits in TRS to weaken the movement for a separate state.
But, all this is part of history now. The TRS and YSR Congress are new friends as their common enemy is N Chandrababu Naidu. Obviously, KCR is the darling of all those who want to defeat Naidu.
But, why is KCR so keen on roping in YS Jagan into his federal front which is still amorphous.
Everyone refers to KCR’s famous comment of giving return gift. It is true.KCR is certainly keen on teaching a lesson to Chandrababu Naidu for teaming up with Congress to defeat him in Telangana. The TDP-Congress alliance though lost the polls miserably gave sleepless nights to TRS leadership and KCR is interested to strike a revenge.
However, politics is not just an ego clash between two leaders. Politics is more substantive than emotive.
In the recently concluded assembly elections where KCR received landslide, the TRS secured lead in 14 of the 17 Loksabha segments. Hyderabad is the MIM’s fortress. The Congress led people’s front could get a marginal lead over TRS in Khammam and the adjoining Mahabubabad Lok Sabha segments. KCR might have dismissed it as a self goal. The internal rumblings within the ruling party haves certainly cost dearer for TRS. Still, KCR is conscious of the fact that the undivided Khammam district has always been a difficult terrene. Together with Hyderabad, Khammam was not so enthusiastic during the Telangana movement too.
Precisely here in Khammam , the YSR Congress won a MP and three MLA seats in 2014 elections. However, as these leaders defected to TRS, the YSR congress got weakened and ultimately Jagan decided to not to contest in Telangana much to the delight of TRS.
KCR is conscious of the fact that YS Jagan enjoys considerable support among the Seemandhra electorate residing in Telangana state.KCR expects that the new found bonhomie between TRS and YSR Congress would yield dividend for the pink party in 2019 Loksabha elections.
Telangana has 17 seats in Lok Sabha . The party is expected to win at least 15 seats if assembly elections voting pattern repeats in Lok Sabha elections too. But still, TRS is a smaller force compared to other regional players like SP, TMC, BJD etc. Together with Jagan, KCR can show the support of a significant number of MPs ,as this will be a major bargaining chip for the Federal Front in the wake of a fractured verdict in New Delhi.
The TRS and the YSR Congress have something in Common besides hostility towards TDP . Both these parties are more opposed to Congress than BJP, fuelling speculation that Modi-Shah duo are behind this new found love between KCR and YS Jagan.
Thus, KCR has nothing to lose, but has everything to gain by allying with YS Jagan, especially after reaping such a massive harvest in recently held Assembly elections.
(Prof.K. Nageshwar is India’s noted political analyst. He is a former member of the Telangana Legislative Council and professor in the Department of Communication & Journalism, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India)
There has been mixed reactions from common people as well as YSRCP cadres on Jagan’s meeting with KTR. Even though both TRS and YSRCP leaders are saying the meeting is only about federal front and national politics, people of Andhra Pradesh are believing that KCR wants to involve in AP elections as Chandrababu Naidu tried to put his fingers in Telangana during 2018 election.
Today Botsa Satyanarayana, YSRCP leader, convened a press meet to justify Jagan joining hands with TRS. Before this, TDP leaders have been reminding people about the injustice meted out to state of Andhra Pradesh because of bifurcation and also the rude comments made by KCR during Telangana movement. Botsa Satyanarayana responded on this propaganda and questioned TDP, ” if TRS is such a bad political party for Andhra Pradesh, why TDP tried to ally with that party before election”. He reminded, Chandrababu Naidu himself announced that he tried his level best to ally with TRS but KCR rejected his proposal.
It seems YSRCP leaders are trying their level best to defend the decision of their supremo. We will have to wait and see what will be the impact of this decision.
By holding talks with Jaganmohan Reddy for Federal Front, Telangana CM Chandrasekhara Rao has hugged and embraced a corrupt ‘gongali purugu’ (caterpillar), says AP CM Chandrababu Naidu. Much political heat is generated ever since Jagan held talks with KCR’s son K Taraka Rama Rao for taking forward Federal Front. Their secret friendship so far has suddenly come into the open which provoked ruling TDP to make unstopped allegations.
Right from the beginning, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and his party leaders are highlighting what they call massive corruption of Jagan during his father YSR’s regime in united AP state. TDP uses every opportunity to say Jagan has amassed illegal wealth worth Rs. 1 lakh crore in his father’s rule. Naidu is now trying to corner KCR by saying TRS chief has made a very wrong choice by joining hands with Jaganmohan Reddy who has no good track record.
CBN says Modi has also joined hands with KCR and Jagan to destroy AP just because his native state Gujarat is lagging behind AP in terms of innovation, development and IT. Naidu says it is sheer jealousy and impatience that are driving PM Modi totally crazy these days but nothing will stop AP from achieving spectacular growth in coming days.
Anantapur MP and senior TDP leader JC Diwakar Reddy hit out at KCR in his own inimitable style. He described Federal Front as just a passtime propaganda for KCR and KTR. JC said KCR is interfering in politics out of jealousy and frustration over Chandrababu’s growing image in the AP state. KCR is indulging in mud-slinging against TDP and we will was this KCR dirt in the Krishna river but ultimately Chandrababu will win the election which is unstoppable, JC said.
Referring to the Jagan-KTR conclave on Federal Front, JC Diwakar said that is a big joke as Jagan and TRS leaders have been working together for the last one year. There is nothing new about this Federal Front meet. Everyday, they are working together but they are not able to find any progress in AP because of the TDP’s increasing popularity under the dynamic, experienced leadership of CBN.
Why KCR is so angry against the TDP? JC said there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies in politics. KCR and Jagan may do whatever they like using all their powers and resources, but they will eventually fail in front of AP CM Chandrababu Naidu’s vision and experience, JC said.
Former Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav is raising political heat in AP with his damaging comments against AP CM Chandrababu Naidu. During his visit to take part in Sankranti celebrations in Bhimavaram, Talasani said his visit is primarily aimed at discussing political plans of TRS with different sections in AP. He asserted he came here to do politics and their party chief KCR’s return gift is already ready for Chandrababu.
TDP leaders say Talasani is actually visiting Bhimavaram as it is known for cock fights and other related celebrations. But Talasani is deliberately making embarrassing statements against the TDP leadership. He talked of how KCR is going to give the gift to CBN. Talasani held meetings with leaders of BCs and SC, STs during his current visit. What he exactly discussed is not known till now.
KCR is sending his party leaders and also those of MIM to AP to raise political temperatures here. In fact, more political heat is being generated in AP these days because of TRS and MIM leaders rather than Opposition leader Jaganmohan Reddy. For various reasons, the YCP leaders are lagging behind TDP. KCR, Owaisi, Srinivasa Yadav and others are trying to fill this gap.
Telangana CM Chandrasekhara Rao and YCP leader Jaganmohan Reddy are both sworn enemies of the Congress party. Sonia Gandhi dislikes KCR as he betrayed her prior to and after separate Telangana formation. Sonia Gandhi also dislikes Jagan as YSR’s son broke away from the Congress and gave all sorts of troubles by forming a separate party. Because of this, KCR and Jagan are both predictably closest secret friends of PM Modi.
KCR and Jagan made the first step towards strengthening Federal Front. Jagan says KCR’s support is necessary for bringing pressure on the Central government to confer the special category status on AP. No school child in AP will believe this argument. Of all the people, Jagan relies on KCR party. It is well known KCR changes his statements to suit his convenience. One day, he says special status should be given to AP. Another day, KCR says he will not keep silent if Telangana is ignored in the process of benefitting AP.
There is no doubt that Federal Front aims at splitting anti-BJP vote bank in Telugu States. KCR and Jagan want to win as many MP seats as possible and do their bit to help Modi in coming elections. This is the first time Jagan openly came out and opened discussions with KCR. Thus Jagan is becoming a greater enemy of Congress.
Not just one return gift, but Telangana CM Chandrasekhara Rao is planning to give many gifts to YCP leader Jaganmohan Reddy ahead of coming elections in AP. KCR sole aim is to defeat AP CM Chandrababu Naidu and prevent him from retaining power in the state. For this, KCR will do anything and everything just as it is evident from how the TRS leaders are passing comments regularly against the TDP.
As of now, KCR has given all indications to extend all material and external support to the YCP. He has decided almost not to enter the AP polls directly. But, under the name of Federal Front, KCR will keep interacting with Jagan and extend all required support.
Another gift from KCR is the fact that MIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi’s plans to enter the AP election fray. Owaisi is a close friend of KCR and he is going to fulfill KCR’s wish to split anti-TDP muslim votes in AP. It may be recalled muslim vote bank is currently favouring TDP because of various welfare steps taken by CBN. KCR wants Owaisi to change this mood and make sure the muslim vote bank shall not
AP CM Chandrababu Naidu has said there’s an unhealthy understanding between Opposition leader Jaganmohan Reddy and Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao. Naidu said Jana Senani Pawan Kalyan has also shared the same views on this.
Chandrababu’s comments suggested the absence of any scope for Pawan to support or join hands with Jaganmohan Reddy in AP. There’s a rumour that KCR is trying to make a deal between YSRCP and Jana Sena but Pawan’s statements recently do not point in that direction.The TDP leaders are happy as Pawan has made quite damaging statements against Jagan just a few months ahead of elections. It’s almost certain that Jana Sena will contest alone and there will be triangular contests in some places.
In Telangana recent poll, Pawan Kalyan fans mostly supported KCR. The TRS leaders held special meetings with Pawan fans there. Everybody thought KCR will convince Pawan to join hands with Jaganmohan Reddy. Now the scene is reversed without doubt.
Hyderabad: With four ministers and Speaker losing the elections, few more new comers are expected in the Telangana Cabinet, which will take place after Sankranti. Former deputy Speaker Padma Devender Reddy is most probably set to become first woman minister in the Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s Cabinet. Former MPs – Gutta Sukhender Reddy, Balka Suman and Ch Malla Reddy– may get berth in the Cabinet.
According to sources, G Sunitha, Puvvada Ajay Kumar, Danam Nagender, Errabelli Dayakar Rao and Palla Jajeshwar Reddy may figure in the Cabinet. KCR along with one home minister Mahamood Ali completed one month in office on January 13 and is working on Cabinet expansion. Party sources say about eight MLAs may get berth in the first phase of Cabinet expansion.
All eyes on TRS working president KT Rama Rao and former irrigation minister T Harish Rao as speculation is rife about whether they would be inducted or not. The recent review meetings of KCR on irrigation and visit to Kaleshwaram were concluded without participation of Harish Rao and this raised many eyebrows in the state.
Telangana Assembly is scheduled to meet during January 17-20. Telangana Assembly has 120 MLA seats including one reserved for Anglo-Indian community. With this, the Cabinet can have 18 ministers. Barring KCR and home minister, 16 more slots can be filled up in the Cabinet.
Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao is now on cloud nine over the political alliance between archrivals Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) as both the parties have decided to keep equal distance with Congress and BJP. The decision of BSP and SP will further boost the prospects for Federal Front, a KCR-led initiative to establish a third force as an alternative to Congress and BJP in the country. According to sources, KCR has already sent his messengers to Uttar Pradesh (UP) to hold discussions with BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav.
KCR has reportedly spoken with both the leaders and discussed on possible political strategies in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
After a gap of 25 years, BSP and SP have announced their political alliance for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and said there was no difference between BJP and Congress. Out of total 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP, both the parties will contest for 38 constituencies each. UP plays a key role in deciding which party to take over power at the Centre. India has 545 Lok Sabha seats including two reserved for Anglo-Indian community.
KCR has been meeting leaders from several states to garner support for his Federal Front platform to prevent BJP and Congress from forming the government at the Centre. The remarks made by Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav were similar to those of KCR, who often says both the national parties are corrupt and alternatively enjoying the power leaving no other option to the public.
The political alliance between BSP and SP not only confined to Lok Sabha elections, but also for Assembly polls as well. Meanwhile, Congress senior leader AK Antony made sensational comment saying the party alone can’t face BJP. On the otherside, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said he honours the decision of BSP and SP and will contest in elections without any political alliance.
Taking a jab at the Centre for practicing age-old economy models and strategies, Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said that the Finance Commission should think of leveraging the Indian economy and its role has to be totally changed and its functioning should not be a routine affair. Indirectly highlighting the need of third force i.e. Federal Front, the chief minister said that the two political systems have miserably failed the nation. KCR’s remarks came in the backdrop of possibility of a visit of 15th Finance Commission to the state shortly.
The CM said that though there have been different governments at the Centre and state level since independence with different political parties coming to power from time to time, there has not been a qualitative change and hence it’s time to introspect on this.
KCR has expressed unhappiness as to why people are disappointed with the policies of governments and are in an agitating mood. In this context, CM mentioned that the two political systems have miserably failed the nation.
The CM said: “The broad fiscal policy lies with the Government of India. Whatever they are supposed to devolve, they have instead centralized. I told NITI Ayog in one of the meetings that, the Centre should not come in the way of growing states. The growth of the state should be considered as the growth of country. Don’t disincentivise growing states. Even for meagre funds lots of conditions are imposed by the centre. The relation that should exist between union government to state governments is absent. It’s highly unfortunate that the policies devolution is in a manner of dishonouring state government and states’ Powers.”
Constituted on November 27, 2017, the 15th Finance Commission is headed by former Revenue Secretary and former Rajya Sabha MP NK Singh and is to give recommendations for devolution of taxes and other fiscal matters for five fiscal years, commencing April 1, 2020. The Finance Commission is not in a position to understand the issues from States’ point of view as it’s firm on its own terms of reference (ToR), remarked KCR.
Referring to the Finance Commission and its role, KCR further added that, “the Finance Commission visits states with pre-occupied notions. They come with pre-occupied ideas like ToR which in fact should be done after they complete their visit, discuss with state governments and take their views. It’s better if the Finance Commission becomes a policy formulating body. Devolution is the right of the states. Lot of diversity is there with reference to states’ requirements.”
With these observations, the chief minister has instructed the Finance Department officers to prepare a memorandum highlighting Telangana state’s requirements and it should include what all that the state needs.
No doubt, KCR’s master plan rewrote history of Telugus leading to formation of separate Telangana. As KCR was implementing his strategies for that, top leaders of both Congress and TDP at that time just watched helplessly. KCR’s ultimate stroke was that he got all the credit for Telangana formation while it was the Congress which actually gave it as it was running the government at the Centre at that particular moment.
Now again, KCR is planning hard to rewrite the destiny of national politics by playing king maker role in Delhi. How can he do that with just 17 MPs in Telangana? It is very simple. He can just make sure his secretly friendly party YSR Congress Party win as many MP seats as possible and claim joint score in Telugu States to dictate terms to the NDA or UPA or whichever front that falls short of majority in 2019 election.
Race for power has not turned into greed for more more. This is particularly applicable for KCR who seems over confident after recent resounding victory. Luckily for him, the politicians in AP are a too much divided lot and no two Andhra politicians agree with one another. You see the long list of players in AP – TDP, YCP, Jana Sena Party, Lok Satta, Praja Shanti Party, CBI ex JD Laximanarayana’s party, CPI, CPM and so on and so forth. No wonder, KCR wants to hijack AP politics once again.
Overseas biz trips of Telugu CMs: Decks cleared for Naidu’s Davos tour, uncertainty still looms over KCR’s Dubai partnership summit
Hyderabad: Both the chief ministers of Telugu states will be busy this month with their overseas business tours. With the Centre approving the tour plans submitted by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments. Speculation was rife that N Chandrababu Naidu. Andhra Pradesh chief minister, may not make his Davos trip this year. But, the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has cleared restrictions on Naidu’s Davos tour. On the other hand, Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao will be participating in an international partnership summit, which is scheduled during January 6-13 in Dubai. However, the Telangana government is yet to officially confirm the KCR’s trip to Dubai. According to sources, KCR may not attend Dubai partnership summit owing to several factors including full-fledged Cabinet yet to be formed and pre-scheduled one-week tour.With the easing of restrictions, Naidu will address World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos in Switzerland, during January 20-26, 2019. But, the Centre trimmed his trip to four days from seven and the entourage from 14 to four.
Union Ministry of External Affairs has approved the proposal sent by Telangana government. Government advisor Rajiv Sharma, CM Principal secretary Narsing Rao, IT secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Municipal Administration Principal secretary Aravind Kumar will accompany the chief minister in Dubai trip. The Centre has already cleared the foreign tours of KCR and Naidu. Naidu regularly attended World Economic Forum held in Davos during the past four years.
AIADMK leader Sasikala is enquiring about ‘Federal Front’ being formed by Telangana CM K Chandrasekhara Rao. As of now, Sasikala is locked in Parappana Agrahara jail in Karnataka in connection with the illegal assets case. Former MP and Congress leader Vijayashanti visited Sasikala recently when the issue came up for discussion.
Sasikala has asked what would be the future prospects of the Federal Front. For a long time now, Sasikala has been strongly opposed to both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Modi government has been held responsible for the assets cases against her and her eventual imprisonment. KCR has come out with Federal Front to attract all those regional leaders who are unhappy with the national parties.
During former CM late Jayalalitha’s regime, Sasikala has gained prominence and she tried to inherit the power of Jayalalitha but the political game turned against her. Sasikala has close relations with Vijayashanti who has supported her family even in difficult times. It seems KCR’s front is getting attention from some marginalised regional leaders especially in South India. Ever since decline of Congress party in South India, regional players are increasing their clout. The BJP’s bid to strengthen in South India has met with failure.
Telangana CM K Chandrasekhara Rao has met West Bengal CM Mamata Bennerjee recently to gather support for his Federal Front efforts. She has not given any commitment to KCR but welcomed regional parties to work against the Bharatiya Janata Party in the states. But now her Trinamool Congress leaders have almost announced Mamata’s bid to run for the prime minister’s post in the 2019 election.
Actually, there are some regional parties that want to form a strong pre-poll alliance with Rahul Gandhi as prime ministerial candidate to counter the Modi government in the election. The DMK has already announced this. The TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu has said no PM candidate has been announced from the side of Mahakutami as of now.
Seeing Mamata’s prime ministerial aspirations, KCR has approached her with his proposal for Federal Front. The Congress and TDP leaders see this as a clever move by KCR in order to widen differences between Mamata and Mahakutami only to benefit the BJP eventually. It should be recalled KCR has met with Modi after visiting the states’ leaders. TDP has raised doubts about this visit. Now questions arose whether KCR will support Mamata’s prime ministerial dreams so as to divide anti-BJP alliances to benefit Modi.
