HYDERABAD:TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao is confident of leading the government in Telangana. Despite being panned by Telangana Congress chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah and TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu for making illusionary promises in the TRS election manifesto, he says unperturbed, “I am not building castles in the air.”
Q At last, your dream has come true. What next?
TRS has to win these polls. The battle for free Telangana is far from over. We still have long way to go. There are burning issues like repatriation of Andhra employees based on nativity, irrigation, power, joint capital, merger of 7 mandals in Bhadrachalam, AP Bhavan, etc., which can be solved by TRS alone.
Q Is TRS not taking a risk by going to polls alone, rejecting merger or alliance with Congress, even a tie up with CPI, amidst predictions of a hung Assembly?
Absolutely not. I have survey reports indicating big win for TRS. The mood now in Telangana is: “Let’s give TRS a chance.” I don’t want to reveal the figures, but TRS will get at least 75 Assembly seats and 14 Lok Sabha seats.
Q Why did alliance with Congress not materialise? Will the party consider an alliance in case of hung Assembly?
It’s a hypothetical question. TRS will get a clear majority. Why think negative?
Q Will the BJP-TD alliance affect TRS’ chances in Telangana?
It’s a flop alliance. In fact, it’s ‘jabardasti’ (forcible) alliance. T-people will reject Naidu for his double talk. He is trying hard to damage TRS, but he will fail miserably.
Q TPCC president Ponnala Laxmaiah alleges you are showing ‘Arichetulo Vaikuntam’ to people (taking people for a ride) with promises that cannot be kept.
He talks “bakwas” (rubbish). Ponnala says it will cost Rs 8 lakh crore to implement our promises. His estimation is right. They spend 25 per cent and pocket 75 per cent. It requires wisdom of economy besides prioritisation and not just money.
Q Can promises made by TRS and other parties be implemented in view of thousands of crores needed for it?
I don’t want to talk about other parties, but TRS promises are practical and will be implemented. The party manifesto was prepared with great care by involving retired IAS officers, intellectuals and party leaders.
Q What is TRS’ USP in the manifesto?
Free integrated KG to PG education, free two-bedroom house for weaker sections, quality government medicare, waiver of farm loans up to '1 lakh, water for irrigation and drinking, security for all including women, jobs for locals, focus on ITIR, turning Hyderabad into both software and hardware hub, location and need specific industries and institutions, new thermal power projects to overcome shortages, etc. It’s a very comprehensive list.
Q TRS demand for repatriation of Andhra employees has kicked up a row?
We said it from Day-1. In fact, our movement tag line is “Neellu (water), Nidhulu (finances) and Niyamakalu (appointments/employment).” How can Andhra employees run the show in Telangana secretariat? There is no option. T-staff will work here and they have to work in their region.
Q Your plan to shift Hyderabad Race Course and Chanchalguda jail raised eye brows…
Why not? Why should such huge space be used for race course... which is betting? Why a sprawling jail in the midst of city? Why not shift it to the outskirts and use the land for educational institutes.
Q It is stated the HRC 127 acres is private property?
Let us see if that is the case...
Q You have decided to contest for Gajwel Assembly and Medak Lok Sabha? Why?
It is a strategy we have adopted...
Q Congress claims credit for granting statehood to Telangana and seeks public support to form next government.
They did not give Telangana on a platter. We fought and achieved it after great sacrifices. People have seen Congress and Telugu Desam government for 60 years, which have messed up Telangana. Are they not responsible for farmers’ suicides, weavers’ hunger deaths, students’ suicides for Telangana, power shortage and lack of irrigation facilities? People should vote for TRS.
QYou promise good governance and wiping out corruption. Is it possible?
Why not? Why should ministers, MPs, contractors hang around CM’s office for lands? Why should CM deal with the issue instead of an IAS officers committee? Political corruption destroyed the state. I wonder what a person will do with hundreds and thousands of crores of ill-gotten wealth? Why this hunger for money? Everyone eats normal food, not currency. So, let’s earn for a decent living, but not loot state.
Q You have planned a massive election campaign, a mix of both tradition and hi-tech 3-D hologram?
We have planned 700 meetings covering mandal, district headquarters and corporations in Telangana. At least 200 meetings will be in slums alone, including places like Addagutta and Jagdirgutta. We are using 3-D hologram technology for the first time in South India. We plan to hire 20 screen-mounted vehicles for live/recorded telecast.
