Crediting the people with the victory of Telangana Rashtra Samithi in the elections, its president K. Chandrasekhar Rao has said it was a “people’s victory” which was blessed by all sections.
Mr. Rao was his usual calm and composed at press briefings post-declaration of election results even on Tuesday as he avoided any bashing of the principal Opposition — Congress — and confined himself to the merits of TRS victory. He said it was a positive vote for TRS, showing reinforced confidence of people in the government.
Flanked by senior party leaders, Mr. Rao addressed a crowded press conference at the TRS office facing a battery of cameras. He was given a hero’s welcome and left after the conference with the same frenzy by supporters.
Mr. Rao gave the same sermon since the first time that the TRS won over 20 seats in 2004 Assembly elections, appealing to the elected members to take the victory in their stride but work hard with all humility to fulfil the aspirations of people. “Don’t put the power vested in you for negative use as you have a heavy responsibility to shoulder. The sweet victory has come with a heavy responsibility.”
Priorities set
The only time he came close to targeting the Opposition for its high voltage verbal abuse during election campaign was when he criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising local issues of Nizamabad and poor projection of Kaleshwaram irrigation project.
He said the new government’s priority was to complete pending projects, address land issues of tribals in the first six months and expedite filling up of vacancies in government jobs. Jobs in non-government sectors will also be made available liberally. The government will work for health security of people by recording the health profile of each individual. The poverty of SCs and STs which was of great concern will be addressed. Growth engines will be explored to stir up economy. The double bedroom housing programme will continue, though slowly, taking up one to two lakh units a year.
Assuring that it will not be a routine administration, he promised residential schools even to forward castes. He lost his cool answering a question whether he would work from Secretariat at least in this term and said the Secretariat, for him, was wherever he sat down to work.
He said the tally of TRS in the results would have been higher by 17 or 18 seats but for lapses by its candidates. It was like suicide by TRS in Khammam where it won only one seat.
