News

TELANGANA CM Chandrasekhar Rao & Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Discuss Formation of Non-Congress, Non-BJP Federal Front

TELENGANA Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and her Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee have claimed that they have fruitful discussion on launching a non-Congress and no-BJP front to take on Narendra Modi led NDA in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The two CMS heading their ruling parties interacted in Kolkata on Monday on the possibility on such an initiative.  Speaking to media after the meet held at Nabanna, Bengal Government’s Secretariat at Howrah, Chandrasekhar Rao said “Our proposed Federal Front is not a political parties’ front, but a people’s front.” They said they had discussed the necessity of forming a federal front for the 2019 general elections. After the meeting Rao tweeted “It is a good beginning. I think politics is a continuous process, whatever we have discussed is aimed towards development of the country.” Chandrasekhar Rao told media persons that this is the first step towards a qualitative change in politics. “The BJP and Congress have failed to address the people’s problems in the last 70 years. The Front we are proposing will be different one, a Federal front and it will be according to people’s needs,” he said. The nation is waiting for an alternative. “This front will emerge as the biggest one and will come out with a people’s agenda very soon.” He hoped that many like-minded parties will join the Front. He said that there is a need for an alternative agenda, alternative development and alternative force. “We had very good discussions. We will meet again and try to take a decision.”West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the nation is waiting for change. She said she and Rao discussed the development of the country and farmers’ issues and will hold discussions with like-minded parties. Replying to a query by a reporter Banerjee said “it is not like whatever Rao has said, I completely agree with that, but let him speak, if something happens you will get to know”. TRS MPs K. Kesava Rao and K. Kavitha , and chief advisor to the TS government Rajiv Sharma also participated in the discussions. The Congress has a dig at Chandrasekhar Rao for his efforts to set up a federal front. Speaking to media in Delhi, Congress in-charge for Telangana R.C. Khuntia and TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy accused Rao of trying to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi by dividing anti-BJP parties in the state. Both the leaders described Rao’s visit talks with his counterpart in Kolkata as a political stunt. They said to divert the public attention from his failures Rao is talking about Federal Front. “When the TRS cannot win even a single MP seat in Telangana in the next election, where is the question of Federal Front,” they said. They asked Telengana CM to clarify whether he is on the opposition’s side or in the NDA.KCR said in 2019 there would be a front which will be a “for the people of India.” The Telengana Chief Minister, who along with his team of party leaders and advisers flew in a chartered aircraft from Hyderabad to Kolkata to discuss with her the present political situation, was likely to visit other State capitals including Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Patna, Mumbai and Lucknow in search of a nationwide consensus. The Bengal Chief Minister however had not given any clear cut answer to a question whether it is possible to put in place any viable alternative minus the Congress. It is not a confidential that she is not comfortable with Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, although she has good equation with his predecessor and mother ailing Sonia Gandhi. Mamata said “This is a good beginning. We have to explore further possibilities by talking to the other like-minded parties. Every political party has its own identity and respect. No one party should rule the country. We need to work together, maintain good relations with all parties. We are not in a hurry and are approaching others also.”The Pioneer says  quoting  TMC  sources that  Mamata is likely to visit  Delhi next week where she would meet Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and “some other like-minded parties” on or after March 25..The sources  did not rule out  the possibility  of  Mamata meeting  Congress President Rahul Gandhi.(pic : courtesy: The Deccan Chronicle)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.