“People of Telangana have given a chance to Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) last time and had elected Congress and Telugu Desam governments earlier. They are now disenchanted and we want to occupy the political space to become the new alternative. Prime Minister Modi’s charisma, party president Amit Shah’s poll management, our positive political manifesto (to be released soon) and promise of corruption-free government will help us get necessary support to form a government,” claims Telangana State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president K. Laxman in this exclusive interview: Excerpts –
What is the main plank on which the BJP is fighting elections in Telangana?
After our party came to power at the Centre in 2014, we have grown exponentially from Kashmir to Kanyakumari winning elections in 19 States. Modi’s development agenda and welfare schemes have helped us win in States like Manipur and Tripura where we hardly had any presence. Even in Telanagana people are looking for change and we assure a government accountable to the public and with social justice.
Why do you think people will prefer BJP to TRS?
It’s because whatever K. Chandrasekhar Rao and TRS has promised during the last polls have not been implemented and there is all round failure. Whether it is in two-bedroom housing, three acres to Dalits, Mission Bhagiratha or Mission Kakatiya, irrigation schemes, KG-to-PG education, jobs ... where is the progress? Hyderabad generates most revenue but it has been neglected with no proper roads, sewerage or drinking water. Where is the world class city? What happened to 100-day action plan?
Why do you think KCR sought polls 10 months in advance?
We are yet to hear a proper explanation for it. However, he knows he stands no chance against Modi’s charisma during General Elections when the national issues will take precedence. But, it is strange why he sought early polls after being the first party to support ‘one nation, one vote’ for simultaneous elections for the Centre and States proposed by Mr. Modi.
But, hasn’t the Centre gone out of its way to support the TRS government?
Under Prime Minister Modi the nation’s development takes precedence over politics. He believes in ‘Team India’ so whatever permissions the TRS government sought in clearances for irrigation schemes, funds under the 14th Finance Commission like ₹1.36 lakh crore, taking up national highways at cost of ₹44,000 crore, etc. This is to benefit people of Telangana.
Your party is contesting on its own here after a long time, how will Congress-TD-TJS alliance affect you?
We are the real alternative to the TRS. The ‘unholy’ alliance between the Congress and the TD will not work. It will turn out to be a major political blunder. There won’t be any automatic transfer of votes because the TD has come into existence on the anti-Congress plank and people perceive it to be anti-Telangana.
