KCR ducks query on Nalgonda bypoll

Hyderabad: For the first time after becoming the Chief Minister of the state, TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday directly criticised Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman Prof. M. Kodandaram, his comrade-in-arms during the separate statehood struggle, saying “He does not have brains”.

Speaking about the Rs 8,000 per acre per year scheme for farmers, Mr Chandrasekhar Rao said, “Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda called me and complemented me for my scheme. Several reputed editors of national dailies greeted me on this, but some people resorting to cheap politics (chillara rajakeeyalu) here.”

The formation of the Political JAC on May 23, 2009, and the selection of Prof. Kodandaram as its convener was the brainchild of Mr Chandrasekhar Rao in the thick of the statehood agitation. Both fell apart after the state was formed, and the TRS came to power in 2014.

Prof. Kodandaram met Mr Chandrasekhar Rao only once two years ago to extend a wedding invitation. 

Though he reportedly tried several times to represent people’s issues, Prof. Kodandaram could not get an appointment with Mr Chandrasekhar Rao.

The Chief Minister was non-committal on the possibility of causing the Nalgonda Lok Sabha bypoll. Replying to a question, he said, “Why should there be a bypoll? Is it happening, I don’t think that possibility is there, it is only the media writing about it.”

Mr Chandrasekhar Rao  said that if there was a bypoll, the TRS would win it like it had won all elections held after the formation of the state.