Congress paints TRS chief as a betrayer, not fit to lead new state

Taking complete credit for the creation of Telangana, Congress leaders repeatedly hark on how KCR, as the TRS chief is known, made several promises and went back on them, besides questioning his party’s role in achieving the decades-old dream of the people of Telangana.

Senior Congress leader and former Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president D Srinivas, in an interview to Khaleej Times in Nizamabad, said: “KCR has completely lost credibility. He had promised to merge his party with the Congress once Telangana becomes a reality. He then promised that he would make a scheduled caste leader the first chief minister of the state and a member from the minorities as the deputy chief minister. He has gone back on these promises and is keen on occupying the top post himself.”

Describing the TRS president as a paper tiger, Srinivas believes that KCR would not have achieved the stature he enjoys now had the Centre not announced the decision to form a separate state on December 9, 2009. “In fact, KCR’s fast-unto-death then (which led to the announcement by then home minister P Chidambaram) was not for a separate state, but was against Section 16F (pertaining to governmental job opportunities in Hyderabad for locals). KCR, who was nothing till then, was suddenly pushed into limelight after the December 9 announcement,” Srinivas, who is contesting from Nizamabad (rural) assembly seat, said.

The Congress leader, who would certainly be in the race for the chief minister’s post if the party comes to power, also faulted KCR on other counts including fielding candidates who were opposed to the Telangana cause and had made a last minute entry into the TRS. “The Telangana Joint Action Committee, which played a prominent role in the separate statehood agitation, is very unhappy because they have been ignored in ticket allotment by KCR,” he said.

When asked why the Congress could not strike an alliance with the TRS, he shot back: “It was KCR’s insistence on becoming the chief minister that made any workable tie-up impossible.” Echoing similar sentiments, Union Minister for Science and Technology Jaipal Reddy, who is contesting the Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha constituency, told Khaleej Times that the Congress had an edge in almost all the 10 district of Telangana. “We have an edge over the TRS even in Medak from where KCR himself is contesting,” the five-time MP said, adding that KCR is a factor only in these elections.

The BJP candidate from Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha constituency Nagam Janardhan Reddy went a step further stating that KCR owed people an explanation as to what role he played in achieving separate statehood for Telangana. “What is his contribution? It was the BJP which ensured that the Telangana bill is passed in both the Houses of Parliament. KCR was a mere spectator when the entire division process was on,” he said.

The TRS chief’s daughter K Kavitha, who has been fielded from Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency, however, comes out in defense of the party decision to go it alone in the elections. “First of all, everybody knows that the TRS is the voice of the Telangana people. One should understand that it is a new scenario in a new state, and people have aspirations which only the TRS can fulfill” she said, adding that the Congress also had a major disadvantage in carrying 10 years of incumbency.

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