KCR shifts gear to election mode, announces development projects at Khammam event

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekar Rao used the BRS mega rally organised in Khammam to shift gears into election mode. CM KCR announced several development promises to Khammam in his speech at the mega public rally on Wednesday, January 18, while also mentioning that he'll reveal the national policy of the BRS on another day. Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwat Mann, Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI General Secretary D Raja attended the public meeting. 

According to BRS, the public meeting is the biggest in the history of Khammam and they call it the beginning of change that the country is going to witness. The meeting scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM began only at 3:40 PM. 

Kerala Chief Minister was the first to address the gathering and he chose to speak in English. He spoke about the importance of a public movement against the BJP like the one CM KCR has embarked upon. He also emphasised on the spirit of federalism and minced no words about how he felt the country's federalism is under threat under PM Modi. 

Next came Samajwadi Chief Akhilesh Yadav. He chose Hindi as his preferred language to target PM Modi. He alleged that PM Modi will utilise the chairmanship of G20 as part of his campaign. He also said, "You drive away BJP from Telangana and we assure you we will do the same in Uttar Pradesh." 

After Akhilesh, CPI's General Secretary D Raja took to the podium to address the gathering. CM KCR introduced D Raja as Telangana’s friend and the one who supported separate Telangana. Raja received a warm response when he began his speech in Telugu but soon shifted to English saying it's more convenient. Though the crowd seemed anxious about yet another English speech, Raja kept the momentum and ensured it was not too long. 

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann was the highlight of the event. Though both Arvind Kejriwal and Mann spoke in Hindi, Mann hogged all the limelight with his witty one-liners and his short and crisp speech. While showering praises on the KCR government, he announced he would  replicate the Telangana government's Kanti Velugu scheme in Punjab. Mann also took a dig at the Congress saying it has become a party where its elected MLAs are available for sale at a cheap price.

People waited with bated breath for CM KCR to take centre stage for his speech. Finally, when he did, he began by announcing a slew of development projects for Khammam. While several points in his speech felt like old wine in a new wineskin, he said he would save the national policy of the BRS for another day. Throwing light at certain aspects of the national policy of the BRS, CM KCR said BRS would ensure LIC is not privatised and that it would put an end to the controversial Agnipath army recruitment scheme. He also hit out at PM Modi several times in his speech making it no different from his recent speeches. KCR's speech was a letdown for many people who had gathered expecting more fireworks and steam. He had to cut short his speech as they were scheduled to take the helicopter back to Hyderabad.