From Owaisi to Mamata, politicians, political parties back TRS Chief KCR’s decision of joining national politics, forming third-front

K Chandrasekhar Rao, the chief of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), on Saturday announced that he was keen to join national politics to bring about a ‘change’ in the political system.

The TRS Chief’s decision was warmly welcomed by All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi as well as West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Apart from them, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren, too, backed KCR, by giving him support.

Addressing a gathering of prominent TRS leaders, ministers, and elected representatives of the party at his residence in Hyderabad, the Telangana Chief Minister said, “Since morning, I have been receiving many calls from various places in India. Today afternoon, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee called me and said that I have taken the right decision and she will be supporting me.”

According to an official release, Mamata said, “I am in agreement with you. I will work with you.”

He also indicated that he will be in talks with all the like-minded leaders and parties for creating an agenda for the country’s growth. He said, “I will soon meet like-minded leaders and we will also hold consultations with economic experts, social scientists and farmers for creating an agenda for the country's growth.”

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren also called the TRS chief and pledged his support with him. KCR said, “Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren also called, telling me that he is standing behind me. Soren also told me that he is trying to speak with many other people in India and will meet up soon and speak on the issue.”

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi backed the Telangana Chief Minister’s decision, and on Saturday afternoon, said that he welcomes the decision by the leader, saying that the country is fed up of the two national parties’, BJP and Congress’ governance. He gave assurance that he will support the TSR chief.

Owaisi said, “I welcome Telangana CM's statement & he rightly stated that people of the country are fed up with BJP governance & Congress is not a viable option, neither it can become one. KCR has given exemplary governance to Telangana in the last 4 years.”

I welcome Telangana CM's statement & he rightly stated that people of the country are fed up with BJP governance & Congress is not a viable option, neither it can become one. KCR has given exemplary governance to Telangana in the last 4 years: Asaduddin Owaisi pic.twitter.com/8FSfftZT78

— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2018

“I am of the opinion that Chandrashekar Rao will play an important role before and after Parliament elections. I am of the opinion that the country is looking towards regional parties. The country is looking towards those parties which are against the BJP and the Congress,” Owaisi said.

Also Read: Telangana CM KCR says ready to fight against current political system by entering national politics, Owaisi welcomes his statement

On Saturday, KCR announced that he is ready to fight against the current political system by entering into the national politics. He stated that the existing political system had ‘miserably failed’ to stand up to the expectations of the common people, and that he himself is not of much age, so he can serve the nation up to some years from now.

KCR said, “I am 64 and I can serve the nation for a few more years. I have a clear idea, agenda and route map for bringing the much-needed change in the existing political system. I am ready to lead the fight against the current political system and would campaign across the country against the Congress and BJP if the need arises.”

He questioned on what the two national parties did for the developmental measures of the people. He said, “There is need for qualitative change in the national politics....There is a serious need. People are vexed now. No qualitative change is seen by people even after 70 years of democracy....China developed in less than three decades. What both Congress and BJP did all these years?”

He said, “People are looking for change. Can we expect something new to happen if Congress comes to power after BJP? It can be a third front or any front...Are we not part of the country? Discussions are going on. There is no secret about it. Recently I met (CPM leader) Sitaram Yechury. He is my good friend. We spoke on a lot of issues.”

He also said that the TRS MPs will support Andhra Pradesh and voice their concern over the pending state-related issues, like the Muslim Reservation Bill, or the promises made under the Andhra Pradesh Recognition Bill-2014, in the Parliament. “People are confused on special status to AP. This should end. Centre should make it clear whether it would accord special status or not,” he was quoted.