The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Disquiet in TRS over KCR's remarks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Disquiet in TRS over KCR's remarks

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT 14. A section of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leaders are sore with the party chief and Union Minister, K. Chandrasekhara Rao, for stirring a hornet's nest by his controversial remark that he would drag the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, and Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to the streets if the Congress went back on its promise on Telangana.

On the defensive

Even as the Congress party leadership has gone on the offensive and other parties have flayed Mr. Rao, the remarks have not gone down well within TRS. Several leaders are said to be of the view that Mr. Rao's remarks, coming close on the heels of the praise he showered on Ms. Gandhi, were not only ill-timed but had also forced the party to go on the defensive.

Restraint urged

A senior TRS leader speaking to The Hindu on Tuesday wondered why Mr. Chandrasekhara Rao had to make such a remark when things were moving in favour of the party. "The UPA had included the issue in Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and the President in his address to the joint session of the Parliament. Moreover, the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh had also spoken in favour of the issue," he said.

The leader felt that KCR should observe restraint while speaking at party meetings. He questioned the inconsistent statements of Mr. Chandrasekhara Rao. "One day, he praises Ms. Sonia Gandhi as Goddess and immediately threatens to drag her to the streets if the Congress goes back on its promise.

The entire cadre and leaders are feeling bad about the remarks," he said pointing out "with a single statement, the party's image has taken a beating and it will be tough for the leadership to retrieve the situation."

Vidarbha campaign

Meanwhile, the TRS leadership is getting ready to send two teams to Vidarbha to campaign for the Congress in the Maharashtra elections slated next month. The Union Minister, A. Narendra, left for New Delhi on Tuesday even as the controversy appears to be snowballing into a confrontation between the alliance partners.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section

Make health care affordable for poor: Barnala

Disquiet in TRS over KCR's remarks

Dharam, YSR do a swap, all for studies!

YSR reviews Ganesh immersion arrangements

Meter-readers to collect water bills

Around the City

In Hyderabad Today