KCR’s campaign: low on punch, high on promises

It is something people have missed in the chopper-stop campaign trail of caretaker Chief Minister

November 20, 2018 11:33 pm | Updated November 21, 2018 08:25 am IST - Hyderabad

Caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao addressing an election meeting in Siddipet on Tuesday.

Caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao addressing an election meeting in Siddipet on Tuesday.

Known for his fiery speeches laden with native wit and punch, TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) could not enthuse the huge gathering during his “Praja Ashirvada sabha” (election meeting) in Huzurabad Assembly segment on Tuesday. Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao in his whirlwind tour campaigned in four districts — Siddipet, Karimnagar, Rajanna-Sircilla and Kamareddy — on Tuesday.

At the sprawling land between Shalapalli and Indiranagar villages in Huzurabad, KCR had launched the ambitious Rythu Bandhu scheme this May. Though his campaign managers mobilised a big gathering, the caretaker CM had disappointed them with a brief 11-minute speech.

Women who expected the CM to announce some sops to the constituency in general and the SHG women in particular, were disappointed. Introducing the party candidate for the segment and finance minister in the caretaker government Eatala Rajender as his right hand, he asked the voters to elect him with one lakh majority.

“Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project would be completed by June next year,” KCR promised, and Karimnagar district would turn into water junction with water availability throughout the year at the LMD and MMD reservoirs.

Crop colonies

In Siddipet he said: “Crop colonies will be established and the produce will be purchased by self-help groups (SHGs) with the help of Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP). It will be processed in the units that would be established in each constituency and will be exported even internationally.” Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao addressed a public meeting of where voters from Sidddipet and Dubbak constituencies were in attendance. He has also promised to regularise the services of IKP staff.

KCR said he was able to achieve Telangana with the support of Sidddipet people. “By next year, the irrigation projects will be completed. Victory for Harish and Ramalinga Reddy is confirmed. Bless both and give them more than one lakh majority,” he urged.

“The works I have completed are before you. I am attending an examination and give me marks the way you’d give your son,” minister in the caretaker government T. Harish Rao said.

Former MLA and Dubbak TRS candidate S. Ramalinga Reddy said that water is being supplied to every house with the blessings of KCR.

Powerloom weavers

In Rajanna-Sircilla the caretaker CM said the TRS government had instilled confidence and stopped suicide among the distressed powerloom weavers of Sircilla town by providing them employment throughout the year.

But lot more has to be done for their uplift and economic empowerment and the Apparel Park should come up in the region to provide employment to women, he promised.

“Sircilla powerloom weavers were always with the Telangana movement,” he said and appealed to weaver organisations to take all measures to stop suicides and assured all assistance from government.

The president of the TRS called upon the people to elect K. Taraka Rama Rao from Sircilla and former legislator Ch. Ramesh Babu from Vemulawada with thumping majority.

Tribal lands

Addressing an election meeting in Yellareddy in KAMAREDDY district, Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao said he would issue new pattadar passbooks to tribals by solving all disputes over their agriculture lands including “podu” lands within six months of the TRS coming to power.

He said that he would ensure the supply of 10 tmcft of water to Yellareddy constituency and also modernise the Pocharam reservoir at an estimated cost of ₹160 crore.

An additional 3,000 acres would be given water by constructing dams and lifts at Dharmaraopet and Mothe, he said.

Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao hoped that the TRS nominee and former legislator E. Ravinder Reddy would win with a majority of one lakh votes.

(With inputs from K. M. Dayashankar, P. Ram Mohan and R. Avadhani)

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