On Wednesday, Telangana Chief Minister Okay Chandrashekar Rao lastly takes his deliberate nationwide leap, with a brand new get together. The veteran chief who fought for Telangana statehood hopes to be the face that non-BJP, non-Congress events are on the lookout for. Vinod Kumar was one of many founding members of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), is vice-chairman of the Telangana State Planning Board, and a former MP. He speaks on their plans for the Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti get together, the states and allies they’re , and why KCR is the reply. Excerpts:
Who would be the members of the Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti (BRS) get together?
KUMAR: The BRS can be headed by Telangana Chief Minister Okay Chandrashekar Rao on the nationwide degree. From throughout the nation, many small and regional events need to merge with the BRS. These events have been launched earlier in numerous states by completely different leaders, however as a consequence of varied causes, couldn’t take off. They’re very desperate to merge with the BRS. The leaders of those events can be appointed to numerous positions within the BRS. It’s a bit early to disclose their names.
Which states will the BRS contest in?
KUMAR: The BRS will initially concentrate on areas the place the BJP and Congress are current however there is no such thing as a third different, and individuals are searching for one other political get together. We are going to solely think about the Lok Sabha elections for now. We’re getting an excellent response in neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra. We’re additionally Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh. We’re areas all around the nation the place there’s a requirement for another get together.
What do you consider the BJP problem in Telangana? By forcing the state authorities to commemorate ‘Liberation Day’ on September 17 (the day the Hyderabad princely state grew to become part of India), has the BJP pushed the TRS on the again foot?
KUMAR: The BJP is making plenty of noise however it isn’t a menace to the TRS. Clearly, they’ve gained some floor within the state as a consequence of which they’re able to make the noise, however it isn’t important. We’ve been commemorating September 17 as Liberation Day for the reason that formation of the TRS in 2000. We elevate the nationwide flag at our get together workplace yearly. We didn’t take an official stand as a result of we didn’t need to antagonise the minorities, and we wouldn’t have any hesitation in saying that. However now we now have managed to rope within the minorities too to commemorate September 17, so there is no such thing as a query of the TRS being on the again foot.
Different regional get together leaders initially warmed as much as KCR however they appear to be staying away now.
KUMAR: That’s not in any respect the case. In truth, all regional get together leaders are desperate to workforce up with the BRS and so they share KCR’s imaginative and prescient and respect the initiative he’s taking. In truth, JD(S) chief H D Kumaraswamy has already arrived in Hyderabad. The CM known as up the Samajwadi Social gathering’s Akhilesh Yadav final night time and requested him to not come as his father Mulayam Singh Yadav is hospitalised. All regional get together leaders very a lot help KCR.
Do you assume another alliance with out the Congress is feasible?
KUMAR: In 2004, the UPA was attainable with the Congress as a result of it had 140 seats. Now it has under 50. The Congress is disintegrating and there’s no probability of a revival. There is no such thing as a different get together or alliance that is ready to counter the BJP. On this state of affairs, a political different with out the Congress has to emerge and may be very a lot attainable. KCR’s efforts will finally culminate in another get together.
Will the CM’s son, Okay T Rama Rao (Telangana minister and TRS working president), or daughter Okay Kavitha (a former MP and sitting MLC) have a job within the new organisation?
KUMAR: Nothing as of now. The CM will determine on that within the coming days.