'One Nation-One Election' gimmick by BJP to divert attention from core issues: KTR

HYDERABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president and Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR) has lashed out at the Centre saying that the discussion on 'One Nation-One Election was a gimmick by the BJP to divert attention of the people from core issues. He however added that irrespective of the Assembly and Parliament elections being held simultaneously, the BRS would comfortably win over 90 seats in the State.

Interacting with the media at Pragathi Bhavan on Tuesday, KTR said that there was positive atmosphere for the BRS in the State after announcement of 115 candidates by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao last month.

"According to the feedback coming from the ground, people feel that KCR is necessary for this State. People are positively explaining the schemes, welfare and development programmes provided by this Government over the last ten years. It shows that the people are very clear. Only the opposition is confused," he said.

Stating that KCR had checkmated his opposition, KTR said, "The opposition thought that sitting BRS MLAs would join their party if they were not given tickets. But KCR gave tickets to them and backed their leadership."

Taking potshots at the BJP and Congress, KTR said, "Telangana does not have the instability and lack of leadership that exists in other states. Our chief ministerial candidate is KCR. The opposition is unsure about their chief ministerial candidate. This is enough to say that KCR will take oath as a Chief Minister for the third time."

"Congress is the party that created mayhem and communal riots to change chief ministers. The Congress party threw sandals on their own party leaders like PV Narasimha Rao who is the pride of Telugus. People of Telangana who have self respect will not accept such parties which are a slave of their masters in Delhi. They will have to decide if they want slaves of Delhi or the child of Telangana," he added.

Asked about his views on the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu, KTR said, "There is nothing to comment about developments in neighbouring states. We have nothing to do with it. That's their headache. It's none of our business."