In his maiden trip to Mumbai, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, in a bid to stitch up an alliance of various parties against the BJP, held two marathon meetings, one with his counterpart, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and another with the Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. The two CMs made common cause over their common rival BJP was at its display.
Pawar assured his blessings to Rao.
Both KCR and Thackeray announced they would work together for ‘parivartan’ (change) in the country, saying that it was the need of the hour. The duo lashed out at the BJP-led government at the Centre for vendetta politics and misusing Central probe agencies against its opponents.
At their meeting, Pawar and KCR expressed their resolve to work together on a new vision for India to expedite development by addressing a variety of issues, including hunger, poverty, unemployment and farmers’ deaths.
However, after these parleys, KCR, Thackeray and Pawar did not reveal the role of Congress party in their endeavour.
Thackeray, who has repeatedly ruled out a patch-up with his party’s estranged ally BJP, said, “What is happening in India is low-level politics. That’s not Hindutva. If things remain the same, what will India’s future be?”
After the more than two-hour long meeting with KCR at his official residence Varsha, Thackeray assured support to his Telangana counterpart in forming an anti-BJP front, alleging damage to the country’s federalism.
“Our Hindutva doesn’t teach wrong politics; some people only work for their agendas, even if the country goes to hell. We have to bring our country on the right path; who the PM will be can be discussed later. We’ll meet many political leaders today onwards,” he declared. Thackeray had earlier announced ‘complete support’ to Rao’s fight against the BJP’s alleged anti-people policies and to uphold the federal spirit.
On his part, KCR said, “It is a good beginning. There is a need in the country for a strong, inclusive India. We will speak to regional parties and national parties as well. We want to work with the inspiration of Shivaji Maharaj and fight for democracy and justice,” he added.
“The front that emerged from Maharashtra is successful. We want to fight with the inspiration that the country has got from people like Shivaji Maharaj and Balasaheb Thackeray,” noted KCR and hoped that “what happened today will have good results”.
“We discussed the political situation and the development issues being faced by the country after 75 years of Independence,’’ he revealed.
The founder of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) said he had invited Thackeray to Hyderabad. “Telangana and Maharashtra share a 1,000-km border. We need to have friendly relations with each other for the development of both states and the country,” he said.
“We’ve had an elaborate discussion on improving and expediting developmental issues and bringing structural and policy changes in the country. We’re agreed on all the issues,” said KCR.
However, Thackeray echoed the opposition's concern about federalism saying, “The atmosphere that should exist between the states and the Centre is not seen today. Such politics will not work, so we have made a fresh start.” Thackeray also spoke about how the Central government uses different ways to spread false rumours about some states and some people – “defaming someone by falsely promoting what has not happened”.
“Central agencies are being badly misused; we condemn it. The Central govt should change its policy, or it will suffer. The country has seen many such things,” said KCR.
Hours after the meeting between KCR and Thackeray, the Yuva Sena chief and the Environment and Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray hinted at new political equations at the national level. Although Aaditya did not divulge further details, he has dropped sufficient hints that the Shiv Sena will play a crucial role in the emerging political scenario, targeting the BJP in the run-up to the next general elections.
Pawar & KCR discuss development
KCR met Pawar at his Silver Oak residence and discussed a development strategy for the country.
“This country needs to be run properly with a new agenda, new vision. I discussed the same with Sharad Pawarji. He is an experienced leader, has given me his blessings and we will work together. Soon, a meeting with other like-minded parties will be held,” KCR said. He added that the meeting of various parties will take place at Baramati (Pawar’s home turf) or any other place to decide on an agenda and time table which will be released thereafter.
KCR said that at the outset, he thanked the NCP chief for his support to the demand for Telangana state and the progress that paved the way for its formation. He reiterated that there was a need for change (parivartan) in the country, after 75 years of Independence.
Pawar admitted that generally, it was politics that came up for discussion when political leaders met. “However, today, the issues pertaining to development, including hunger, poverty, unemployment and farmers’ deaths were discussed. Development was the focal point for discussion. It was development, development and development only,” he said.
Interestingly, at both these meetings actor Prakash Raj, a known critic of the BJP, was among the prominent faces present. Posters welcoming KCR to Mumbai were in evidence across the city.
