KCR calls for new political force for nation's progress

'Need alternative agenda, not political fronts or regrouping'

Hyderabad: TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Wednesday said the country needs an alternative agenda, not political fronts or regrouping and called for the emergence of a "new political force" in which his party could play a key role for the country's development.

Addressing his party's 21st Foundation Day celebrations, KCR, as Rao is addressed, asserted he had turned down the Left parties' idea of dislodging the ruling BJP at the Centre and insisted that uplifting people's lives was more important. In his welcome address that stretched for an hour and a half, Rao expressed concern over divisive politics and stressed that a "new political force" should emerge in which TRS is ready to play a key role for the nation's development.

Highlighting the growth story of Telangana to 3,000-odd delegates present at the event, he said the state has emerged as a role model for others in various sectors and even the country has not performed the way the state has done. The party has taken Telangana on a growth trajectory and will work for the development of the nation, he added.

"What is required and desirable are not political fronts. Many such fronts have come, what happened? Not political realignment, what is required is an alternative agenda," Rao said amid speculation that he would announce a political front today, even as he had made efforts to forge a coalition of non-BJP parties to take on the saffron party. An alternative agenda is required as the country has not realised its full potential despite having vast natural and human resources, KCR said. Also, the country is witnessing communal strife with recent incidents in Delhi and Karnataka while the emphasis should have been on development and people's welfare irrespective of religion, the CM said while making a veiled attack on BJP. He also said that there is attack on the federal structure with Governors in some states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu not approving of proposals submitted by the respective state governments. Water wars and power sector woes are a reality across the country, he said, adding that even Telangana could have achieved higher state GDP of Rs 14.50 lakh crore had the Centre performed like the state government did. Against this backdrop, the TRS supremo said instead of any political front, a process to build a great nation should take place.

"Time will decide what will happen in the process," he said, adding that it is a matter of pride for Telangana if the endeavour to improve the country begins from the southern state. The party has decided to work for the progress of the nation as well in view of the "narrow minded policies and tendencies" being witnessed in the country, he added.

Noting that he is opposed to an idea of dislodging any party from power merely for the sake of it, Rao said, "I said no when communist leaders came with an idea to dislodge the BJP from power. I feel that uplifting people's lives is more important than dislodging any party." Telangana has achieved immense growth with implementation of several schemes like bringing transparency in land record portal 'Dharani' and is emerging as a role model to others.