Hyderabad: The TRS has been attempting new caste equations ahead of 2019 Assembly elections to boost its winning chances. While the TRS government has already been implementing various caste-based welfare schemes to woo voters by spending thousands of crores o rupees, the Chief Minister and party chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao is trying to reach out to various castes through party activities also.
The CM’s latest move on Friday to donate Rs 50 lakh to Padmashali community on behalf of the TRS to set up Padmashali Welfare Fund is being viewed in political circles as part of his political outreach programme to woo various castes.
The government recently released the list of 70 Most Backward Classes among Backward Classes to extend various benefits exclusively for MBCs. The CM also announced 2.5 acre land and Rs 5 crore to construct Padmashali Bhavan in city.
On Saturday, the CM came out with sops to Rajakas (washermen community). He offered one acre land and Rs 5 crore to construct a hostel-cum-community hall for the community in the city. He also promised to install a statue of Chakali Ailamma, a revolutionary leader from Rajaka community who fought against the atrocities of feudal lords in Telangana, in city.
The CM started introducing caste-based welfare schemes from 2016 and as the crucial Assembly elections draw closer, strategies are being devised to please various castes by announcing sops on behalf of party.
For any ruling party in power, announcing sops from the government side is common to woo voters. But the TRS chief and CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao has gone one step ahead by announcing sops on behalf of his party.
The party leaders, however, said this should not be viewed as an attempt to woo voters. “In a democracy, political parties play a crucial role. They have certain responsibilities towards the people whether they are in power or not. The TRS is only trying to fulfil ITS responsibilities and it should not be viewed as an attempt to woo votes,” they say.
