Achampet: “Suppose you defeat the BRS, what will I lose… nothing. I will go and take rest. But you will lose a lot,” admonished ruling BRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at a public meeting, resuming the party election campaign.
“These days, every Tom, Dick and Harry is challenging me. One of them says come and contest against me in Kodangal. One dares me to come to a Gandhi statue. Does KCR have to prove his power in front of these nobodies? Entire India knows the power of KCR. The people in front of me are the power of KCR,” he said, addressing himself in the third person on a warm Thursday afternoon.
“Is this politics? Do we want such people?” he thundered. The big crowd roared in approval and waved with frenzy.
Speaking in rustic Telangana dialect in his characteristic style, a combative Rao said, “Congress left the situation in Telangana in a terrible state. There were droughts, poor kitchens, farmer migrations and suicides. Situation was dire. Nobody cared before I came and galvanised a movement for separate Telangana. No one gave it. Congress promised in 2004 but I fought and made it impossible for them but to relent,” he said.
“After creation of Telangana state, we created a government without corruption, took care of welfare, ran our government carefully, like a family. We gave pensions. We increased it smartly, incrementally, as our situation got better. We gave 24-by-7 electricity, only state in India to do so. Even Prime Minister’s Gujarat can’t do it. Congress can’t do it in Karnataka.”
“Elections keep happening. They come and go. Parties will win and some parties will lose. But people must win and their lives must improve. So, vote wisely. Remember how many times I have come here, even when we did not have a separate Telangana? Only I stood by you. I turned Telangana into a hub of agitation and ensured we got out dream,” he said.
Repeating his rhetorical arc of how Telangana, when a part of Andhra Pradesh, was misruled by various parties, including the Congress, he claimed credit for resuming the separate statehood movement, got the state and then set it on a path of prosperity and success. “The per capita has risen. Incomes have risen. We are doing well in every walk of life. Of course, critics will always find faults.”
“Previously, we used to only see parched lands and people had to walk for miles for water. Now I see a dam from here, there is water and green fields. When we were in trouble, were any of these guys around? Will they be there for you tomorrow? Only KCR will be there for you,” said Rao, getting another roar of approval.
He cautioned people against voting for people who have lots of promises and guarantees but are not likely to deliver them. “Think about my words around your village and discuss it. Think who is KCR and what all he did. Think about how Telangana was a decade ago? Vote wisely.”
Taking a high note of the love he received from people, he said, “You have named me the modern Bhagiratha, who ensured water for all of you. I also gave Dharani portal, which ensures farmer welfare and protects their land. Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy say they will remove it if Congress comes to power. Why did we create Dharani? Will it help me? Will it help my relatives? It helps farmers.”
Warning people against voting for “brokers and thieves,” he said, “We got Telangana at a big price. Let us take care of it. It is our collective responsibility.”
He finally exhorted people to vote for BRS candidates and ensure a big win.
