Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, a strong votary of State autonomy, on Sunday called on DMK leaders M. Karunanidhi and M.K. Stalin but rejected any talk of a third front for now.
Nonetheless, he was highly critical of successive Central governments in the last seven decades.
Luncheon meeting
“We have not proposed a third front or fourth front or a fifth front. The so-called front is created by the media. We have never announced a third front. There is nothing like a front,” Mr. Rao said after a luncheon meeting at Mr. Stalin’s house. Senior DMK leaders T.R. Baalu and A. Raja were also present at the meeting.
Asked whether he was open to reaching out to the Congress since a front without the party would only help the BJP, Mr. Rao said he was not suggesting a mere alignment of parties.
“I am very clear in my mind that it will be the alignment of the people of India, the masses and farming community and the unemployed youth,” he said.
“Who are going to join us and who are going to leave us will be decided in the future and not immediately,” he said, adding that he would have further discussions with the DMK and other parties.
Mr. Stalin said that since the elections were a year away, a decision on alliance would be taken at that time.
‘Not only political’
Mr. Rao said they were not in a hurry. “We are not saying we are associated with the Congress or we will decide on them. We do not propose any such thing now. We will have discussion among ourselves in the next two three months and will arrive at a conclusion. Kindly let us not to be hasty. We are only for the betterment of the country, better economy and better opportunities for the youth. Do not make it pucca political,” he added.
Asked if West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamul Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, with whom both he and Mr Stalin previously had separate discussions over the phone, would be projected as Prime Ministerial candidate of an alternative front, he countered, “You are projecting or I am projecting?”
Mr Rao said he would also meet Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and leader of the Telegu Desam Party Chandrababu Naidu.
Expressing happiness over the meeting, Mr. Stalin said the two leaders had a detailed discussion on State autonomy, saving secularism, securing more rights and funds for States and shifting education to the State list.
“We have completed first round of talks and have decided to continue it. He is in touch with Chief Ministers of States,” said Mr Stalin.
He would discuss the issues with the leaders of other parties who shared the views of the DMK. “We will also place these issues in the executive, general council and high-level committee of the DMK,” he said.
‘True federalism’
Mr Rao also had agreed to evolve a consensus on the DMK’s plan to hold a state autonomy conference.
The TRS leader who called for “a qualitative change in the governance and in the politics of India” criticised centralisation and called for evolution of true federalism in the country. “We should go ahead with the formula of truthful centralism. That is the motto of the DMK and the TRS,” he added.
“It will take minimum of two to three months to arrive at a consensus and to come to understanding what to do and how to go about it. As far as me and Mr Stalin are concerned, India should be a secular country and there is no alternative about that,” he said.
“The Centre has no role to play. Centre should focus on external affairs and international relations. We also discussed that leveraging the economy of the country is a must,” he said.
Pointing out that across the globe countries that had taken initiatives were forging ahead, he said in Japan, which was ruined in the second world war, one could see the best example.
“It has picked up and joined the league of developed countries. So should be the case with India. Present way of going is not suitable for the country. India needs to leverage its economy, Earn a big bug and share among the states,” he said.
Mr Rao invited Mr Stalin to be the Chief Guest of the function organised to distribute ₹8,000 per acre for farmers in his State.
“The government of Telangana had provided for ₹12,000 crore in the present budget for the scheme. From May 10 we start the programme. We have invited Mr. Stalin to be the Chief Guest. I hope he will participate, he said.
Published - April 30, 2018 01:08 am IST
