A new challenge has begun: KTR

Warangal: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) may have recorded a thumping win in the recently held elections to the Assembly, but it’s not time to bask in that glory, party working president KT Rama Rao said. Addressing a meeting at Kakatiya Degree College grounds here on Thursday, KTR tried to emphasise the challenges before the TRS government besides strengthening of the party’s organisational structure.

“It’s always inspiring to be here in Warangal, the epicenter of Telangana Movement,” KTR said going nostalgic about his one-day stay in Warangal Central Prison during the agitation for separate State. “I may have spent just a day in jail for Telangana, but it’s one to remember forever as no award or reward in life is equivalent to that,” he said, recalling his association with the senior TRS leaders and Telangana ideologue Prof Jayashankar.   

He said that after achieving Telangana, the TRS, which formed the government in 2014, had to focus hard on administration. “There were times when Telangana antagonists tried to humiliate and denigrate the new government, but we have overcome all those barriers such as power shutdowns,” KTR said. In fact, the Telangana has become a role model for other States in the country, he said, referring to the nationwide popularity to the welfare schemes and programmes introduced by the K Chandrashekar Rao government.

The recent elections to the Assembly was a challenge for the TRS as it had to face the Congress-led alliance and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but the people reposed their faith in KCR government, he said, dedicating the victory to the party cadres.    

KTR said that the increase in poll percentage from 68 per cent (2014) to 73 per cent (2018) in the State gave a ray of hope for the Congress which thought it as a wave against the TRS government, but it wasn’t to be. The vote share (nearly 98 lakh) the TRS got against Congress’ 56 lakh reflects people’s mood. On the other hand, the BJP lost deposit in as many as 103 seats, he said.

Despite massive win, the leadership is cautious about improving its position in the State to get better results in the upcoming panchayat polls and Lok Sabha elections later, the TRS Working President said. “From here and onwards, I will be available 24X7 to all the leaders and cadres.

After the construction of party offices in all district headquarters, local legislators and MPs will have to spare time for the party cadres and to strengthen subsidiary organisations of the party such as farmers, youth, trade unions etc,” KTR said, appealing to party leaders to give a new description to TRS abbreviation – Tiruguleni Rajakeeya Shakti (unopposed political entity). Earlier, KTR addressed party cadres in Jangaon. After which, he laid foundation stone for the construction of TRS Party Office in Hanamkonda.

MPs Capt V Laxmikantha Rao, A Sitaram Naik, Pasunuri Dayakar, Banda Prakash, MLC Kadiyam Srihari, MLA-elects Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar, Nannapuneni Narender, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Aroori Ramesh, Challa Dharma Reddy, DS Redya Naik, Banoth Shankar Naik, Peddi Sudarsan Reddy, E Rajender and V Sathish Kumar were among others present.