FIRST ELECTORAL ENTRY OF BRS OUTSIDE TELANGANA
(At
Kandhar Loha in Nanded district of Maharashtra, KCR challenged Maha Government
to replicate Telangana Model)
Vanam
Jwala Narasimha Rao
The
Hans India (02-04-2023)
(Emphasizing and
reinforcing his slogan of ‘Ab Ki Baar Kisan Sarkar’, KCR, perceptibly
challenged the BJP-Shiv Sena combine to implement the Telangana Model of Development
for farmers and the Dalit community as well. The way KCR articulated his
challenge, listing out numerous development and welfare schemes being
implemented in Telangana, is a strong indication that similar challenges are in
waiting in other states too sooner or later-Hans India Editor Note)
Chief
Minister Telangana and President Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) strategically announced
that BRS will contest every seat in the forthcoming local body elections in
Maharashtra and thereby indicating his entry into polls in other states. Obviously,
this move of KCR is an indication of steadily securing the required percentage
of votes for BRS in other states too, for an early recognition of BRS as
National Party. KCR as of now, did not speak of any alliance or poll
understanding in these elections.
Emphasizing
and reinforcing his slogan of ‘Ab
Ki Baar Kisan Sarkar’, KCR, perceptibly
challenged the BJP-Shiv Sena combine to implement the Telangana Model of Development
for farmers and the Dalit community as well. The way KCR articulated his
challenge, listing out numerous development and welfare schemes being
implemented in Telangana, is a strong indication that similar challenges are in
waiting in other states too sooner or later.
KCR’s Strategy is to be one of ‘Being Different’, a rare
quality in the context of today’s
national political and poll scenario. 'Being different' is betting on doing
things differently. It means honoring one's own values, follow one's own
passion, lead the way, and blaze the trail or precisely to be the first one to
do something and to show others how to do it. The 'Being Different' Person is a
leader not in the traditional sense. 'Being different' is to have the courage
to explore new venues and push beyond the boundaries the leader encounters.
The CM affectionately
and successfully captured the hearts and attention of the people at large in
Maharashtra by garlanding the statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Jyoti Rao
Phule, Basaveshwara, Anna Bahu Sathe, Ahilyabai Holkar, and Dr BR Ambedkar
before addressing the public meeting and then began his speech by paying rich
tributes to them and recollecting their services to the nation. The occasion
witnessed several prominent leaders of Maharashtra joining BRS who included
former MLAs, Dalit leaders, former ZP chairpersons etc.
Amidst ‘Desh ki Neta
kaisa ho, KCR Jaisa Ho’ slogans
from the audience, KCR was addressing an impressive and massive gathering at
Kandhar Loha in Nanded district of Maharashtra State on Sunday, March 26, 2023.
KCR’s address which appeared more or less like an interactive session, drew
huge response from the public. Incidentally, The Kandhar fort near Nanded in
Maharashtra, spread across 24 acres, was once the capital of the mighty
Rashtrakootas’ dynasty, that ruled over the Deccan for four centuries. The
grand success of the BRS meeting in Kandhar Loha, the second in Maharashtra, was
a big boost to party leadership to plan a few more in that state, as well as a
few other states ultimately, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. In
fact, the CM also hinted at visiting Sholapur saying that he was under pressure
from leaders of that region to address a public meeting.
KCR further indicated
to the Maharashtra People and particularly the farmers that, if they exhibit
their united strength in the local body’s elections, both the state and central
governments will come running to their doorsteps in a bid to solve their
problems. He reminded how the Maharashtra state government was shaked after BRS
Nanded meeting on February 5 and hurriedly expedited its announcement to
include agriculture investment subsidy component of Rs 6000 per acre and gave
credit to the ‘power
of pink flag’ for the
same. KCR, however, demanded that the subsidy should be on par with that of
Telangana, that is, Rs 10000 per acre, in addition to implementing other
schemes of Telangana Model.
KCR took
strong objection to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
comments on his campaigning in the state and said that, he being a citizen of
India, has every right to move anywhere in India. Challenging Fadnavis that if
only he implements the farmer benefiting schemes in Maharashtra as is done in
Telangana, like 24 hours free power and water supply to farmers, financial
assistance of Rs 10,000 per acre, insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh, procuring
the entire yield from farmers by setting up over 7,000 procurement centers
across the State, Rs 10 lakh per head under Dalit Bandhu etc. he would not have
to visit Maharashtra. In other words, Chief Minister challenged Devendra
Fadnavis to replicate Telangana’s model of welfare and development.
KCR
reiterated that in the 75 years after Independence, despite Congress rule 54
years and BJP rule of 16 years, nothing worthwhile happened, except parties and
politicians getting benefited but not people at large. The fate of people,
especially farmers has not changed, he pointed out. India’s abundant natural
resources like billions of tons of coal reserves and water as well as huge
human resources are being underutilized said KCR. He said that our kids are
eating burgers and go to the shops of foreign companies for Bread and
questioned that why should there be such a situation in a predominant
agriculture country? He said no need to beg anyone and we have wonderful wealth
given by God and Nature.
‘Farmers
are not demanding for gold or the moon, but only water and power’ he said and added that that if they fight hand in
hand with him, he would promise that water will be supplied to every acre in
the country. The only mantra is farmers have to stay united and form a team to
fight against these parties said KCR. ‘The country will soon witness a cyclone of
farmers’ unity and strength as the successive governments at the Centre and
States have been taking them for granted and it can’t go on forever warned KCR.
He gave a call that farmers, workers, and Dalits should unite and vote BRS to
victory in the ensuing panchayat elections.
Stating that
Telangana’s condition was worse than Maharashtra at the time of formation of
the state in 2014, when farmers were committing suicides in large numbers and
to overcome that, the state launched several welfare schemes making agriculture
profitable said KCR. Detailing about
transformation that had taken place in Telangana during the last nine years,
KCR said it was purely the commitment of the BRS government towards people and
farmers that had transformed it to a privileged level in many areas. When
Telangana which was more backward than Maharashtra nine years ago, could be
transformed into one of the leading contributors to the nation’s economy, why
can’t Maharashtra? questioned KCR. Stating that Maharashtra is a land where the
architect of Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar was born, KCR said Dalits have
been neglected for centuries in the country.
The BRS Chief
said he had noticed large tracts of parched lands on his way to Nanded. This
was even when River Godavari and Krishna originated from Maharashtra. Farmers
here were facing severe shortage of water and power for agriculture. Taking a
dig at the Maharashtra government, KCR said the Nanded airport, which was
supposed to be operated for 24 hours, was now being shut for night operations
which certainly reflects backwardness of the nation but not development. KCR stated that the ruling coalition
leaders in Maharashtra organized ‘Dawats’ in nearby villages for the last
couple of days in an effort to make the people to skip BRS public meeting at
Kandhar-Loha. The police even diverted traffic (vehicles) coming to the public
meeting and despite all this it was the affection of Nanded people that had
made him visit the area twice in less than two months.
The
inference clearly was, that the first Electoral Entry of BRS outside Telangana is
signaled and KCR’s move is perhaps is to expedite recognition of BRS as
National Party by contesting in as many states as possible in a phased manner
and ensure the required percentage and even more votes and seats wherever
contested well before General Elections.
(The writer is
Chief Public Relations Officer to Chief Minister, Telangana)
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