The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Telangana issue: Rajnath attacks UPA

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Friday, May 16, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Telangana issue: Rajnath attacks UPA

BJP not to support other parties in the ensuing bypolls, says Indrasena Reddy

PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

All the best: K. Laxman, BJP candidate from Musheerabad Assembly constituency,seeking the blessings of party president Rajnath Singh in Hyderabad on Thursday. Former Minister Ch. Vidyasagar Rao and State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya are also seen. -

HYDERABAD: BJP president Rajnath Singh on Thursday criticised the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for not yet finding the “appropriate time” for considering the demand for formation of a Telangana State -- four years after it was promised in the Common Minimum Programme.

At a press conference here, he said that one of the biggest promises made by UPA government to the people of the country was to create Telangana.

Reiterating that BJP was “1000 per cent committed to create a separate Telangana”, he sought to assure that the appropriate time would come only when BJP-led NDA comes to power at the Centre.

Asked if the BJP would have a tie-up with TRS in the next elections, he said it was for the TRS to decide.

He also wanted TRS to clarify on how it would create Telangana State without the help of Congress or BJP.

On why the BJP was contesting a single seat in the byelections, he said “ we are preparing for Lok Sabha elections in 2009”.

Meanwhile, the BJP has decided not to support other parties where it was not in the fray in the ensuing byelections.

Its role in the elections would be limited to contesting the lone Musheerabad Assembly seat.

A meeting of the State office-bearers of the party, presided by Rajnath Singh, took these decisions on Wednesday night, said N. Indrasena Reddy, BJP secretary. He told a meet-the-press programme organised by AP Working Journalists Federation that the party had also decided to leave it to the cadre to support candidates of their choice in constituencies other than Musheerabad.

Answering questions, he said the party did not expect the cadre to part ways as its candidates were not in the race in several constituencies.

“The BJP has a committed cadre. They will vote for other parties in this election but will not desert the BJP,” he remarked.

Mr. Reddy also ruled out alliance with any other party in the State in the general elections due next year. The BJP would be all the more distant from the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).

He accused the TRS of being irresponsible in thrusting elections on people by resorting to resignations in the Assembly and Parliament.

The TRS owed an explanation to voters how pressure to concede Telangana would mount if it performed well in bypolls.

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