TRADITIONAL TOUCH: Women according a warm welcome to TRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao by applying tilak to his forehead during his electioneering in Karimnagar town on Tuesday. — Photo R. Raju

KARIMNAGAR: The results of Karimnagar byelection will reflect the emotions and self-esteem of 3.5 crore people of Telangana region for formation of a separate state, said Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Tuesday.

Addressing a gathering organised in connection several leaders from other parties joining the TRS in Karimnagar town, Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao appealed to people to teach a fitting lesson to other parties contesting in the byelection so that they would even lose their deposit.

He flayed Minister for Sports M. Satyanarayana Rao for running away from contesting against him after challenging him to resign. He charged the Congress leaders with chanting the slogan of Telangana statehood issue after intelligence reports stated that TRS would win the by-election with a thumping majority.

Contradictions

Flaying the contradictory statements being made by the Congress leaders, he asked Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy to announce statehood for Telangana before the byelection to prove his sincerity. He reiterated that he would come out of the contest immediately and support the Congress party if it announced Telangana state. He alleged that the Congress had deceived the people of the Telangana region after being elected on Telangana statehood slogan in the 2004 elections.

No compromise

He said that there would be no suicide by farmers and weavers in separate Telangana state. "I swear I will sacrifice by life for the cause of Telangana, but will not compromise on the statehood issue,'' he pointed out amid slogans of `Jai Telangana' from the audience.

TDP senior leader Laxmipathi of Choppadandi and Congress leader K. Venugopal joined the TRS along with their supporters. Besides, some other leaders from the BJP and the CPI had also joined the TRS. The party legislators -- Etala Rajender, K. Eshwar, V. Lakshmikantha Rao and others were also present.

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