KCR demands immediate formation of Telangana

Buoyed up by the sweeping victory in the by elections to 12 assembly seats, Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K Chandrasekhara Rao on Friday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi to take immediate steps for the formation of Telangana state.

"The people of Telangana have once again proved and demonstrated clearly that they want Telangana state. They have done so many a times in the past. By voting overwhelmingly in support of TRS, they have delivered a verdict in favour of Telangana," he said.

Addressing mediapersons in Hyderabad on Friday night, KCR said that the victory of TRS was the victory of 4 crore "Telangana Biddas" (sons of Telangana). "I am dedicating this victory to those martyrs who laid down their lives for the sake of Telangana," he said.

Flanked by film star and member of Lok Sabha Vijayshanti and other leaders, KCR said that it was an unprecedented victory. "People have given their verdict on the attitude and drama of Congress party and Telugu Desam since the announcement of Telangana state on December 9 by the Union Home Minister," he said.

KCR also thanked the Telangana Joint Action Committee, lawyers, teachers, doctors, students and people from all sections of life who worked tirelessly for the success of TRS in these elections.

"As we had resigned on the call of the people, specially the JAC, they took it upon their shoulders to get us re-elected to fight for Telangana state," he added.

Rao also announced that after December 30, which was the deadline for the Sri Krishna committee to submit its report, TRS will intensify its struggle for Telangana state.

Pointing out that the TDP had lost deposit in almost all the constituencies and even Congress forfeited it in four or five constituencies, KCR said, "People have sent a message to them that if they continue with the same attitude on Telangana state issue, they will be wiped out from the region. There will be no place for these parties."

Chandrasekhara Rao alleged that Congress and TDP spent a whopping Rs 200 crore and flowed liquor to woo voters, but the people rejected all their antics.

"This victory is a big step forward towards achieving the goal of Telangana state," he said. "We will continue to work with the same spirit and zeal till we achieve the goal," he added.

Referring to the victory of the BJP candidate Y Lakshminarayana in Nizamabad Urban constituency against the state Congress president D Srinvas, KCR thanked the Muslims for supporting even BJP candidate for the sake of Telangana.

"Without the support of our Muslim brothers and sisters, a BJP candidate could not have won. They have done it for the sake of Telangana and revived the spirit of communal harmony and composite culture, for which Telangana is known," he said.

He urged both the Congress and Telugu Desam to immediately come forward and make a representation to the Sri Krishna commission in support of the Telangana state.

Meanwhile, the crushing defeat in the by elections seems to have plunged the ruling Congress party in confusion. Chief Minister K Rosaiah issued a one line statement saying he and his party will honour and respect the verdict of the people.

But his detractors within the party have found an opportunity to target him over the poor performance of the party. Suspended general secretary of state Congress and a loyalist of former CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Ambatti Ram Babu, blamed Rosaiah for the debacle.

He said that if Jagan was allowed to go ahead with his Odarpu Yatra in Telangana region from Mahbubabad and other party leaders had supported him, party would not have fared so badly.

Some of the other leaders have also started demanding the resignation of the state Congress president D Srinivas.

Interestingly, a senior Congress legislator Shankar Rao said that he was happy with the results as it will open the eyes of all those who were opposing Telangana state.