TRS mega rally LIVE UPDATES: KCR is likely to actively pursue the formation of a federal front, without the Congress and BJP. (Source: TelanganaCMO/Twitter)
TRS mega rally LIVE UPDATES: The cabinet meeting chaired by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) ended on Sunday afternoon with Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari saying that another meeting to discuss the dissolution of the Assembly is likely to be held soon, IANS reported. “There will be another cabinet meeting soon to take more decisions,” he said when asked about the decision to dissolve the Assembly.
Earlier, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders had said that the cabinet will take some key decisions and the same will be announced by the party chief at a mega rally titled ‘Pragathi Nivedana Sabha’, being held on the outskirts of Hyderabad later in the day.
Meanwhile, state IT Minister and KCR’s son KT Rama Rao exuded confidence that the TRS will win both the state and Lok Sabha elections. “We are confident of forming a federal front without BJP and Congress. We believe there are no national parties. Even BJP is a big regional party. We believe the time has come for like-minded parties to come together and form a government at the Centre,” he said.
During the public meeting, the chief minister is expected to read out the progress report of his government, listing the party’s achievements in the newly formed state. The chief minister’s daughter and Nizamabad MP, K Kavita, said: “He will give a fitting reply to all the Opposition parties criticising the government, by putting up all the facts and figures of the government’s good work till now.”
In Tamil Nadu, people rule their own state with their own leaders. Similarly, we shall retain power and not surrender to the Delhi leadership," KCR said.
"I promised that if I don't provide drinking water to every household through Mission Bhagiratha before the next elections, I won't contest the polls. No other chief minister in the country would dare to say something like this," KCR added.
Addressing the crowd at the rally, CM KCR said, "Some media channels are saying KCR will dissolve the government. All TRS members have given me an opportunity to take a decision on the future of Telangana. I will tell you when I take a decision."
"We are confident of forming a federal front without BJP and Congress. We believe there are no national parties. Even BJP is a big regional party. We believe the time has come for like-minded parties to come together and form a government at the Centre," the CM's son said.
The IT minister added, "We are ready to go for early elections if they happen. We are confident of a win. It is Congress which is scared. They are saying they will go to court if early elections are announced."
Expressing TRS' determination to win all the seats, KT Rama Rao said, "We believe the time has come to go back to the people and seek a mandate. We have 16 seats (Lok Sabha ) here and we are confident we will win all, including Secunderabad. We want to play a decisive role in Delhi."
"Is KCR wasting crores of money in conducting the #PrajaVedanaSabha to highlight how he has cheated our Muslim and Tribal brothers and sisters by not giving them the promised 12 per cent reservation?" Congress state president Uttam Kumar Reddy asked.
Hinting at the possibility of early elections, state IT Minister and KCR's son KT Rama Rao said, "If at all the elections are held early, it will help TRS. We will win both the state as well as Lok Sabha polls convincingly. Holding early elections will give us ample room to find potential partners for 2019 polls."
Briefing reports, Finance Minister Etela Rajender said sops for different sections of people were some of the decisions taken at the cabinet meeting, IANS reported. A major decision is for the construction of a community building for the Backward Classes on 75 acres of land in Hyderabad at a cost of Rs 70 crore, he said.When asked whether the issue of Assembly dissolution was also discussed, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari said they briefed the media on the decisions taken as per the agenda of the meeting. "There will be another cabinet meeting soon to take more decisions."
Meanwhile, a man had a miraculous escape on a busy road after his bike had a head-on collision with a mini truck in Rangareddy district on Sunday.
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"Not a single promise made by KCR has been delivered to the people of Telangana. He is now spending 500 crores on this meeting to distract people's attention from his failed & unimplemented promises ! People of Telangana will teach him a lesson in elections!," Congress said.
"KCR promised that he would construct 2,37,000 double bedroom houses for the poor of Telangana, but managed to build only 6,000 houses. Is this meeting being organized because KCR did not keep his promise of delivering Double Bedroom houses to the poor?" Congress asked.
Continuing its attack on the government, Telangana Congress said, "More than 4,000 farmers committed suicide in Telangana and this newly formed state ranks No 2 when it comes to farmer suicides in India. Is this meeting being organized because KCR did not keep his promise of controlling farmer suicides?"
Meanwhile, MP and daughter of Telangana CM KCR, K Kavitha, said that the party was seriously, but quietly, working on its idea of a Federal Front for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. “KCR has time and again said we will go with no party but alone (for 2019 polls). We have given enough chances to the Congress and the BJP and they have done nothing. It is time for regional parties to play a big role,” Kavitha said. When reminded that the non-Congress, non-BJP federal front being pushed by KCR appeared to have few takers since most regional parties were looking to rally around one of the national parties, Kavitha hinted that the front was being worked on for a post-poll scenario. “KCR may not be visibly taking it forward. But things are constantly being worked upon towards this goal. Everything I’d not in front of the media. We are talking to all parties. The idea is alive.” Read full story.
According to IANS, cabinet minister T Nageswara Rao said while he had no idea as to what the cabinet will decide today, it was certain that Assembly elections will be held this year.
Telangana Cabinet meeting concluded and as was expected, there was no discussion on calling for early polls. After the cabinet, KCR gave the media briefing a miss as he left for the public meeting. Senior ministers Etela Rajender and Harish Rao announced the decisions taken during the meet, but made no announcement about whether the state will opt for early Assembly polls or not.
1. Telangana cabinet ratifies earlier decision to enhance archakas retirement age to 65 years.
2. Hike in salaries for contract doctors from Rs 36,000 to Rs 40,000 per month.
3. Honorarium hike for Aasha workers from Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,500.
4. Cabinet approves the allotment of five more acres for Reddy Hostel in Hyderabad
5. Honorarium for Gopal Mitras hiked from Rs 3,500 to Rs 8,500.
6. Govt sanctions Rs 70 crore and 70 acres for construction of 'self-respect' buildings for different castes
7. 71 acres of land allotted to 50 percent of backward classes communities.
8. Another five acres of land allotted to Reddy's Hostel building
9. Salaries hiked for 9,000 employees in Health department.
The cabinet meeting of Telangana government is over, while the ministers are tight-lipped over early polls in the state several SOPs were announced.
Special summary revision of electoral rolls, 2019, commenced in all the 119 assembly constituencies in Telangana from September 1, 2018, the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said in a release. The draft electoral rolls are published and copies are put up in offices of electoral registration officers, assistant electoral registration officers to enable voters to verify their entries, it said. (PTI)
It was a sea of pink, the colour of TRS, as hundreds of tractors, bullock carts, autorickshaws, two-wheelers and buses with pink banners descended from all parts of the state at the venue. Event management teams and labourers struggled from early morning to drain out the rainwater from the venue which left the carpets and stage damp. READ MORE HERE
Over 500 folk singers and performers are at the venue to keep the audience entertained till the meeting begins after 2 pm while Telangana Chief Minister and TRS President K Chandrashekar Rao is expected to speak after 4 pm.
Elaborate arrangements have been made to provide food and water to the thousands of people arriving. Police officials estimate that nearly 80,000 to a lakh might turn up by evening. The entire ORR has been decked up with huge cut outs of KCR and his son K T Rama Rao, a minister in his Cabinet. Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, KCR's nephew, rode the last few kms to the venue on a tractor decorated with pink balloons and flags. Other ministers rode motorcycles alongside party activists to reach the venue.
CM KCR is likely to make some crucial announcements including more sops for farmers, Backward Classes, unemployed youth, and hike in salaries of government employees. At a Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held at 1 pm today at the CM’s residence, KCR may also take a call on whether to go for early polls or not. If the TRS decides to go for early polls, the announcement dissolving the Assembly may be announced by KCR at the meeting today.