Hyderabad: Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has avoided meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after they were re-elected for their second terms, even as he has tweaked the way in which he wants to deal with the Centre.
Mr Rao was not present when Mr Modi was sworn-in for a second term on May 30. YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy took oath the same day, and Mr Rao had travelled to Amaravati for the event. Both of them could not go to Delhi because of a security clampdown at the Delhi airport. Mr Reddy has met Mr Modi thrice in three months, once before taking charge and twice afterwards.
On Monday, Mr Rao did not attend the meeting of Chief Ministers of Maoist-affected states called by Union home minister Amit Shah. Mr Rao deputed TS home minister Mohd Mahmood Ali and Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi.
In his first term as Chief Minister, Mr Rao used to say that the government would maintain “cordial relations” with the Centre. In his second term, he wants to maintain “constitutional relations”. Mr Rao told the media on June 18, “We are not part of the NDA, I promised the Federal Front, I still keep doing it, what is wrong? We will maintain constitutional relations with the Centre.”
When asked about Mr Modi not being invited for the Kaleshwaram scheme inauguration, Mr Rao said, “Do we invite (the PM) for everything? We have invited Modi for Mission Bhagiratha.” Mr Rao had intended to invite Mr Modi for the Kaleshwaram inaugural but could not get an appointment.
