K Chandrasekhar Rao doesn’t address media

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao did not get a positive response for his proposed Federal Front from DMK chief M.K. Stalin in Chennai on Monday.

“Instead of supporting the BJP or the Congress, it will be better for regional parties to form the government,” Mr Rao reportedly told Mr Stalin.

Mr Rao has twice met Mr Stalin, Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee, JD(S) leaders H.D. Deve Gowda and H.D. Kumaraswamy and others. After every meeting, he has briefed the media about the meeting and the agenda of the Federal Front.

On Monday, however, Mr Rao did not address waiting mediapersons after meeting Mr Stalin and left for Hyderabad directly. The DMK released a one-line statement, saying “DMK president M.K. Stalin had a courtesy meeting with Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at his residence”.

A week ago Mr Rao met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the Federal Front but did not speak to the media. It was left to Mr Vijayan to brief mediapersons the next day on what had transpired.

Political circles expressed surprise over Mr Rao’s silence after the two meetings.

Besides, when Mr Rao had gone to Kerala on May 6, the Kerala Chief Minister’s Office had put out a statement saying that Mr Rao would meet Mr Vijayan and Mr Stalin and discuss political developments, the Lok Sabha elections and the post-poll scenario with them. The DMK’s statement that it was a “courtesy meeting” runs counter to that.