Telangana's capital Hyderabad witnessed massive shows of strength from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Saturday, 2 July, ahead of BJP's national executive meeting.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) took a dig at out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, "There will be political transformation. No one is permanent. Before (PM) Modiji there were others. People chose their leader who gets to serve the nation. But Modi thinks he is Brahma and is permanent. This is a democracy and change is constant."
He dared the BJP to topple his government in Telangana. "I am waiting for that. I will become free and then will topple your government in the Centre," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the state capital at noon but the TRS President did not reportedly receive him at the airport.
While the city is decked out in saffron posters and hoardings to welcome the entourage, the ruling party, TRS organised their own rally in support of the Opposition's Presidential Yashwant Sinha. The CM also received Sinha at the airport.
K Krishna Sagar Rao, BJP Chief Spokesperson for Telangana questioned KCR for breaking protocol.
"CM KCR seems to be a rattled man these days especially when the entire national leadership is now in Hyderabad for the national executive meeting. CM KCR is trying to play hide and seek with PM Modi and it is definitely out of fear of the BJP growing in Telangana by the next elections," he said.
He is trying to not just break protocol but is also trying to undermine the presence and position of the prime minister and is also setting a bad precedence for the Telangana state. BJP advises CM KCR to be much more magnanimous and to be a man who can handle situations like this with dignity and respect.K Krishna Sagar Rao, BJP Chief Spokesperson for Telangana
‘India Is Going Through Its Worst,’ KCR Slams Modi
TRS has declared support to Sinha, the opposition’s presidential candidate, and that was evident in how all the roads leading to the airport and along the rally route were decked up with party flags, posters, banners and cutouts of Yashwant Sinha and KCR.
KCR at the meet-and-greet programme, urged TRS MPs and MLAs to ensure that a deserving candidate wins. “Weigh the two candidates and vote after thinking. It will bring a qualitative change,” he said.
KCR alleged that the PM’s promises like demonetisation have been failures, adding that black money in the country has increased since then.
"You have made several promises before winning, we want to know if even one of them was fulfilled,” he asked.
"So far, you (BJP) have collapsed nine governments, this is on your record. Where are we heading to? India is going through its worst in every way."K Chandrashekar Rao, Telangana Chief Minister
‘Election of the President Is a Contest Between Two Ideologies’: Sinha
Stating that the presidential elections are being held under "extraordinary circumstances", Sinha said the fight will continue even after the polls.
"People's movement started in the country and KTR coming to Delhi on behalf of TRS gave me more strength. The election of the President is not a contest between two people - it is a contest between two ideas and ideologies. I believe that if you go with a strong will, success is the key."Yashwant Sinha, Opposition's Presidential Candidate
He took a dig at the BJP leader accusing Modi of not holding a press conference during his 8-year rule. "Media did not dare to question him during eight years. This struggle does not stop with the election of the President - the struggle will continue even after that. We will do a national struggle including Chief Minister KCR," he added.
He said that they were fighting "to protect the country's democracy and constitutional roots."
Meanwhile, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Revanth Reddy slammed both PM Modi and KCR, stating, "Modi has done injustice to Telangana. KCR has failed in asking the state what it deserves. TRS does drama for political purposes. Why is KCR not questioning the Centre? The farmers' suicides were not suicides but murders committed by the Centre."
KCR Insulted Not an Individual but an Institution: Smriti Irani
Commenting on KCR not welcoming PM Modi in Hyderabad, Union Minister Smriti Irani said he insulted not an individual but institution.
He jeopardised integrity of the constitution. Politics maybe a circus for KCR's party, but for BJP workers it is a medium for social emancipation and nation-building: Union min Smriti Irani in Hyderabad.Union Minister Smriti Irani
She talked about how BJP workers of West Bengal and Kerala were assaulted and slaughtered, while party workers in Jammu & Kashmir confronted those who wanted to break India.
She also mentioned the pro-poor welfare policies of the Modi government and stated that in the last eight years, they have worked for the empowerment of women and the youth.
A Show of Power: BJP's Arrival and TRS's Pushback
This is the first time in 18 years that Hyderabad is hosting BJP's national executive meeting, and it is clear that they aren't holding back on their rallying with the city covered in banners and posters showcasing the party's achievements.
BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, chief ministers of 19 states and other BJP senior leaders from 119 constituencies are also slated to attend the meeting.
This is set to be followed by a huge public meeting to be addressed by PM Modi.
Most parts of the city have been covered with cutouts, colourful posters and banners put up by both BJP and TRS highlighting their respective agendas. BJP, in its campaign, highlighted Modi and its NEC while the regional party accentuated the TRS government's achievements.
Both the parties have released full-page advertisements on Saturday in several vernacular and English newspapers.
BJP president J P Nadda also held a road show after his arrival in the city.
"This love and affection I saw, shows the BJP's undeniable growing presence in Telangana."J P Nadda, BJP President, in a Tweet
However, in a show of strength to match the BJPS's, the TRS too organised massive rallies of their own.
Welcome to WhatsApp University, Says KTR
Taking to Twitter, Telangana's Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Industries & Commerce, and Information Technology, K T Rama Rao, took a jibe at BJP's executive council meeting and attendees.
Briefing reporters, BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh also attacked Chief Minister KCR for not visiting his office during his over 3000 days of tenure for even 30 hours, spending "colourful evenings", promoting family rule and ignoring those who made sacrifices for the state's creation.
BJP's Telangana Aspirations: What to Expect from the Meeting
After Maharashtra, BJP has its sights set on the southern states, and from the looks of it, they aren't holding back in their attempt to consolidate power in the region, starting with Telangana which is heading for Assembly polls in 2023.
Here are some key points to know about what the BJP's agenda for the next two days.
Expansion of the party, and induction of more party workers is likely to be a key agenda at the meeting, reported news agency PTI.
A massive public rally is to be held after the meeting on Sunday, at the parade grounds, where PM Modi is scheduled to address the gathering.
The BJP is also holding an exhibition, showcasing photographs of key moments of the Telangana liberation movement, and highlighting the state's heritage and culture.
The exhibition is also said to showcase the 'atrocities' of Razakars (Nizam's militia before the then Hyderabad state was liberated in 1948), and BJP's evolution and governance agenda in the state.
Poster War Brews in Telangana
Meanwhile, Hyderabad city has been painted pink and saffron with party flags and hoardings of the TRS and the BJP. Several pavements are filled with cut-outs of its leaders and hoardings criticising the other party.
Y Sathish Reddy, Social Media Convenor of TRS shared photographs of people posing in costumes from the web series 'Money Heist' holding posters that read, “We only rob banks. You rob the whole nation. #ByeByeModi.”
"What’s happening in Hyderabad? Looks like #ModiHeist much bigger than #MoneyHeist👇🏻," he tweeted.
Telangana Youth Congress took to Twitter to share an edited image of a hoarding with the faces of KCR and his son and minister K T Rama Rao. “The poster is a reflection of the looting of the two governments. #TrsBjpDhosthi,” read the tweet.
Taking a did at BJP’s 2014 election campaign promising good days, TRS leader M Krishank tweeted a photograph of an advertisement hoarding of “Achhe Din biscuits.”
(Written with inputs from ANI, PTI, and Mint.)
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