The Election Commission of India is just watching like a silent spectator while the KCR government is stealing all the voters’ data in raids at IT Grids company. AP CM Chandrababu Naidu has protested against KCR raids but there is no use. The ECI has not so far interfered in the matter. TDP MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar says the taking away of TDP members details and Seva app memory should be considered a crime.

The data war is continuing between the TDP and the YCP because of the disadvantage of electronic systems. If it falls in the hands of wrong persons, they can get all information at the clink of a button. Ravindra Kumar says with the stolen data, the opposition has almost prepared to delete nearly 54 lakh voters’ names from the lists in AP.

Then many questions are being asked on the TRS intervention. Why is the ECI not taking action against the KCR government? Hyderabad was declared as the joint capital of AP and Telangana for 10 years. How can the Telangana government investigate a case relating to AP? Such fundamental issues have come up but the ECI has not responded till now. Analysts say the Modi government at the Centre is fully behind the TRS and Jaganmohan Reddy’s surgical strikes on TDP voters in AP.

Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao is mulling over appointing Parliament Secretaries (PSes). The discussion on appointing 18 Parliament Secretaries has raised many eyebrows as earlier such decision was turned down by the High Court. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has already appointed two senior leaders and an official from law department to study PSes system in other states.

“With an intention to accommodating those who couldn’t figure in the Cabinet, KCR wants to justify the services and loyalty rendered by those senior leaders by appointing them as Parliament Secretaries,” observes a senior TRS leader.

It may be recalled that Telangana government had appointed six TRS legislators as Parliamentary Secretaries with Cabinet rank. However, High Court in May 2015, ruled that such appointment was illegal and stayed the GO.

The TRS government had appointed MLAs — D Vinay Bhaskar, Jalagam Venkat Rao, V Srinivas Goud, G Kishore Kumar, V Satish Kumar and Kova Laxmi — as Parliament Secretaries on December 29, 2014.

“This time, the TRS government is very cautious over appointing Parliament Secretaries. May be without Cabinet rank as previous GO awarded Cabinet rank and it was stayed by the High Court. Parliament Secretaries may not be allowed for Cabinet meetings, but given chambers in their respective departments,” said a senior official.

Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao wants to ensure total transparency in every rupee spent and earned. The main reason for retaining power and forming the government for the second term was our procedures and principles, said the TRS supremo. With heading a 10-member Cabinet, the chief minister has retained key portfolios such as revenues, finance, IT and industries.

“Just to ensure the government mechanism in total transparency, I have kept revenue minister with me only. The TRS government is spending more than the allocated funds to several welfare activities in the state. For instance, we have allocated 11.2 per cent funding for education. During the Congress government, it was a regular practice of less spending. We’re spending more than the allocation to SC and ST Sub Plan. After getting statehood, Telangana is topping in the per capita energy consumption in the country from the days of power shortage in the united AP. Solar energy generation is over 5,000 MW,” said KCR.

He further criticised Congress party for filing cases against several projects thus blocking the progress. Rythu Bandhu scheme has no way related to the Centre’s Kisan Samman scheme. Farmers continue to get Rythu Bandhu benefit in addition to Central government’s Kisan Samman.

Responding to opposition parties’ criticism over the reduction in BC quota in local body elections, KCR said that Congress leaders only filed case against BC quota. Now, it’s subject to Supreme Court’s verdict on 50 per cap on reservations.

Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister and TRS supremo K Chandrashekhar Rao seems to changing his course of action on his dream mission ‘Federal Front’ and his latest words in Assembly further give credence to this speculation. KCR said that he would focus on Telangana development after June.

“After Lok Sabha polls in April-May, Telangana will have elections for Municipalities, MPTCs and ZPTCs. By June, all sorts of elections will be over. I would like to focus on Telangana development from June for next four-and-a-half-years,” said KCR in the Assembly.

This statement has triggered speculation that KCR may not got to New Delhi for mission Federal Front as he has already realised about polarisation of parties either for Congress or BJP. All the regional parties across the country prefer to align with Congress or BJP. It’s difficult task for now to mobilise non-Congress and non-BJP parties, said a senior TRS leader.

“KCR is confident of winning 16 Lok Sabha seats and one Hyderabad MP seat by AIMIM. With this tally, he can play a key role at the Centre regardless of who forms the central government. KCR may also seek important Cabinet portfolios at the Centre. This will also put TRS in a comfortable position to get the required funding support and projects,” he said.

After meeting Navin Patnaik, chief minister of Odisha, and Mamata Benerjee, Pashchim Bangla chief minister, KCR didn’t meet any other chief minister to garner support for Federal Front. Both the CMs, whom KCR met, are also non-committal on Federal Front so far.

“May be all these factors made KCR to rethink on his mission Federal Front. I believe, KCR will keep himself confined to Telangana and transform it into a vibrant state to make a considerable impact on national level. Perhaps, this will earn KCR a national level recognition and credibility that will enable him to play key role in national politics,” observes a political analyst.

Hyderabad: Putting aside all the criticism over not having woman representation in the TRS Cabinet, Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has assured the House that there would be two women ministers in the state Cabinet.

Responding to a question by the opposition party in the Assembly, KCR said: “There will be two women in the Cabinet very soon in the next expansion. We’re supporting woman representation in every sector. Our TRS government is committed to woman empowerment. In the recent announcement of four MLC candidates, we have accommodated one woman. Second phase of Cabinet expansion will have six more ministers including two woman.”

KCR said that with 119 Assembly seats, Telangana state can have maximum 17 ministers in the Cabinet. Including chief minister, TRS government has already 11 ministers on board leaving space for six more slots. Though KCR didn’t confirm the date of next Cabinet expansion, it’s speculated that after Lok Sabha elections, TRS government will induct six more ministers including two woman as the chief minister assured the House.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has accommodated two woman ministers in his Cabinet. Out of the 25 ministers on board, Andhra Pradesh TDP government has two woman ministers — Parital Sunitha and Bhuma Akhila Priya.

It may be recalled that late Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy-led Congress government in the united AP had six women.

Coming back to KCR, the chief minister has further stated that as part of women empowerment, the government has decided to increase interest-free loan amount to Rs10 lakh. “We got more number of votes from women voters. Without women support, we wouldn’t have retained the power. We respect women a lot. We’re also considering a proposal of entrusting food processing units to women self-help groups,” added KCR.