Rao kicks off campaigning, woos Husnabad with increased sops

 Karimnagar: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday appealed to voters not to panic and “identify which party will be useful to them” when they go to vote in the November 30 elections, highlighting the works undertaken by the BRS.

Kicking off his poll campaign at Husnabad, his ‘lucky’ constituency, Rao said: “People should think wisely before voting as it could change their fate.”

Speaking at his first public meeting, titled ‘Praja Ashirwada Sabha’,  after the elections were announced, Rao took a dig at the Congress, albeit without naming it. He alleged that some parties are urging the people to give them one chance, despite getting more than 10 chances. “Do not listen to the persons who try to manipulate; think wisely and make decisions,” he said.

“Nine years ago, how was the situation in the Telangana region? People used to suffer with famine, no water, no current; people migrated to other places. After the formation of the Telangana state, in nine-and-a-half-years, the BRS has made Telangana the number one state,” he said.

Rao said: “Earlier, women used to face a lot of problems due to shortage of pure drinking water, but after taking up Mission Bhagiratha project, water tanks in villages are filled with the water and pure drinking water is supplied to every household.”

Reeling off benefits for farmers, he said: “With supply of 24 hours of uninterrupted power, the farmers are not facing any problems with motors pump sets. In fact, motor-winding shops are closed after the formation of Telangana state.”

Promising to enhance benefits for farmers, he said: “Since every work either directly or indirectly is related to agriculture, even though no one asked the BRS, it introduced the Rythu Bandhu scheme keeping in view the welfare of the farming sector. The government would increase the Rythu Bandhu amount to Rs 16,000.”

Rao said Husnabad was like desert but Mission Kakatiya and completion of Mahasamudram Gandi, along with the construction of check dams, had turned the land fertile. Rao also assured of releasing water from the Gouravelli project, within five to six months of winning the elections.

Stating the benefits for marginalised persons, the Chief Minister said: “Pension amount was increased from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 in the first term and then to Rs 2,000 in the second term. This will further increase to Rs 5,000 and will be implemented after the formation of the BRS government for the third time.”

He assured to take up repairs of the Shanigaram project and link it with the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme (KLIS). “The Veerabhadra Swamy temple situated in Kothakonda where the ‘jatara’ would take place will be developed on par with other temples across the state,” he said.

On infrastructure, Rao said, “The government will take up the road widening works from Siddipet to Elkaturthy via Husnabad, along with establishing a bus stand in Mulkanuru. A government junior college will be established in the Elkathurthy mandal.”

Nearing the end of his address, Rao asked the public to analyse his promises. “Do not leave my words behind; you should go to your respective villages and think on what KCR said, alongside motivating others,” he said.

Later, Rao handed over the B Form to MLA V. Satish Kumar and asking the people to vote for elect him for a third time with a majority of over 50,000 votes. “The BRS victory should start with a win in Husnabad,” he said.