KCR rejects Modi, hints at post poll alliance with Congress

Hyderabad: In surprise comments ahead of the April 30 polls in Telangana, TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao said he was ready to support Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi if he seeks his help to become Prime Minister.

Speaking to TV channels, Mr Rao said the TRS would never back the BJP’s prime ministerial nominee Mr Narendra Modi. He picked on an interview to a local newspaper in which Mr Modi had said he would make Hyderabad the second capital.

He said that Mr Modi, Mr Venkaiah Naidu and Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu would make anti-Telangana comments or promise to make Hyderabad a Union Territory or second capital after polling in Telangana concludes on April 30, with an eye on votes in Seemandhra which goes to the polls on May 7.

He asked the people of Telangana to defeat Mr Modi and the TD-BJP combine since their victory would be a “death warrant” for Hyderabad TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, ruled out support to Narendra Modi-led BJP at the Centre.

“We won’t support. No question,” he said in response to a query on whether he would back Mr Modi. On the Congress vice-president, Mr Rai said: “100 per cent. If he (Rahul Gandhi) becomes Prime Minister with my support, 100 per cent I will be the first person to support him.”

When it was pointed out he was fighting the Congress in Telangana, he quipped, “Can’t help. That’s politics.”

Asked who could be next PM, he said from the present “equation and situation” he said out of his little experience in politics, its neither Mr Gandhi nor Mr Modi, but some other face represented by the Third Front. “Rahul is yet to mature. He cannot be compared with Sonia,” he remarked to another query.

Despite rejecting merger, alliance with Congress and asserting its fight between Congress and TRS in Telangana, KCR praised UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. “I can’t lie, I have some good regard for Sonia Gandhi. Definitely I have to say that because of her initiative Telangana has come and was possible. I openly say it. He added, “She is the main reason behind formation of Telangana. But the arrogant approach of second rung leaders played spoilsport over alliance with the TRS.”

Asked what went wrong over alliance with Congress, TRS chief blamed it on arrogant second rung leaders in Congress. “I spoke to Mr Digvijay Singh, Mr Jairam Ramesh and the latter came to my place in New Delhi. But all of a sudden I found serious criticism on me in newspapers. I was surprised,” he said.

Mr Rao said he was not against Andhras and there was no need for Seemandhra people to be insecure in Hyderabad and Telangana region.

“I am very clear in my mind. I am a progressive thinker. I want Telangana should flourish, develop. I am not against people of Andhra. Jo khana kamane ke liya aye unse hamara jung nahi hai. Jo hamara khana loot ne ke liye aya unse hamara jung hai (Our war is not against those who come here for eke livelihood, but against those looting us).”

To another question, he said Mr Modi played into the hands of wrong people and fell into the trap of Mr Venkaiah Naidu and Mr Chandrababu Naidu. “I don’t know why he killed himself in Telangana,” he said.

Mr Rao who spoke to a national, a regional TV channel and at a series of public meetings before winding up his electioneering on Monday, asked the people to ensure a big win for TRS in the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls to ensure a “golden Telangana.”