Buoyed by SCCL poll, CM K Chandrasekhar Rao Launches all-out attack on Kodandaram

HYDERABAD: Buoyed by the TRS-affiliated Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham’s (TBGKS) stunning performance in the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) trade union election, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has fired choicest salvos at the opposition parties, particularly TJAC chairman M Kodandaram. While terming Kodandaram a “small fellow”,  Rao dared the TJAC chief to enter electoral politics, if the former professor has any guts. “Kodandaram is one of the thousands of workers groomed by me during the Telangana movement. It was me who set up the TJAC. But, now, Kodandaram is spewing venom on our government. He is working for the Congress,” Rao said while launching a full--throated attack on the TJAC chairman. 

Speaking to reporters here on Friday on the outcome of SCCL elections, an elated Rao said never had any union got 45.4 per cent vote share in the Singareni polls in the past. “It is a historic victory for the TBGKS as the TRS-backed union defeated the united opposition. Even though all the opposition parties got together against the TBGKS, we created history by winning in nine out of the 11 divisions in SCCL,” he said. “Kodandaram is imagining himself to be very big. That is his problem. Not even 500 people were present during his yatras undertaken recently against our government. He has never been elected, even as a sarpanch, in his life,” Rao ridiculed.

The chief minister claimed that he was the one who set up TJAC and made Kodandaram its chairman. “I am the first to restart the Telangana movement in 2001. Then all others followed,” Rao said. 
“Kodandaram was in touch with Congress leaders and was responsible for some persons getting the Congress ticket in 2014 Assembly elections. He was not interested to see TRS in power. His contribution to TJAC was nil,” the chief minister said. 

When asked about Kodandaram’s plan to float a party, the chief minister pooh-poohed it. “Politics is all about equation and situation. Not individuals,” Rao said. When NTR floated the party, the situation was suitable and NTR’s personality too helped the party, Rao recalled and added, “I know the capacity of Kodandaram. He is a small fellow.’’