KTR cautions cadre of bid to tarnish party image

Hyderabad: The 18th formation day of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was a simple and low-key affair across the State on Saturday.

While party working president K T Rama Rao took part in a programme organised at party main office (Telangana Bhavan), legislators and other leaders hoisted party flags and took part in celebrations in their respective constituencies.

TRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao, however, stayed away from party programmes as he had already passed the baton to KTR to oversee party affairs full time Expectedly Rama Rao, for the first time in working president capacity, conducted the formation day programme at Telangana Bhavan.

After paying floral tributes to Telangana Talli statue and hoisting the party flag, he addressed a meeting of party functionaries at the Bhavan.

He stated that party would like to conduct formation day celebrations in a big way after conclusion of local body polls.'

KTR, during his speech, recalled the journey of party chief KCR, right from 2001 when he established the pink party with the sole aim of gaining statehood for Telangana.

Despite many ups and downs, KCR never took a step back and continued his journey fearlessly and courageously.

He ultimately achieving the goal and later went on to be elected twice as Chief Minister of the new State, he pointed out. Only two people established parties for the well-being of Telugus, while one was NTR, the second one was KCR, he said.

" NTR's political success was attributed to political vacuum at that time and also his cine popularity. KCR, on the other hand, did not have a strong social background and also financial resources were scarce.

He was never after coveted posts and also declared, many a time, to kill him by hitting with stones if he left the statehood struggle midway," KTR recalled.

Even Pranab Mukherjee, the former President, had praised KCR saying that he was different from others who led mass movements, he said.

While KCR had a few followers with him when he embarked on his statehood journey in 2001, now he has lakhs of followers and supporters and admirers, Rao said.

Commenting on the present politics, he predicted that pink flag will fly high from "Gully to Delhi" in the coming days.

" TRS will not only win all 16 MP seats but also it will emerge victorious in MPTC, ZPTC elections. KCR is in hearts of the common people of the State, " he said.

" It is important that everyone has to be patient and wait for their recognition. Any differences should be resolved internally and within four walls of a room.

Political rivals, who are jealous of rapid strides made by the new State, are trying to defame the party and also create obstacles," he said.