Is KCR stitching a third front? Maha CM calls up Telangana counterpart

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on February 20 to discuss anti-people policies of Bharatiya Janta Party. Uddhav Thackeray, who called up CM KCR on Wednesday, expressed full support to KCR for federal justice, Telangana Chief Minister's Office said.

It added Uddhav also denounced anti-people policies pursued by the BJP. "KCR Garu, you are fighting very hard. Yours is a just struggle. You opened the door at the right time to protect this country from the forces of division. You must continue to fight for the rights of the states, for the integrity of the country. Go ahead with the same spirit. Our support is with you. We will do our bit to bring all the people of the country together," said Udhhav told KCR over the phone.

Rao, on Sunday, said he will soon visit Maharashtra to hold a meeting with Thackeray, as part of the efforts to unite various political parties against the BJP and the NDA government.

Asserting that he would play a key role in bringing various opposition parties together against the BJP, the Telangana CM said the Prime Minister Modi-led NDA government should be ousted from power for its alleged anti-people policies.

"Uddhav Thackeray is also waiting. They are waiting for me. I have to go to Mumbai. Once Sri Ramanujacharya function is over, I may go to Mumbai any time," he said.

Initially, Chief Minister set eyes on national politics by floating a national party and forming a Third Front of parties minus Congress against BJP. He even claimed he was Union Minister in the Council of Ministers which was equal to PM and that national politics was nothing new for him. KCR met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and sought her support. However, sources in ruling party said Mamata Banerjee did not find favour in a Third Front minus Congress. He also met Tamil Nadu CM Stalin and claimed he spoke to other CMs as well in his endeavor. Rumours were agog that if he shifts to Centre he would hand over the mantle to son and State Minister for Municipal Administration and IT, Mr. K T Rama Rao but it did not materialise.

Having failed to get response for his proposed Third Front or alterative to BJP minus Congress, KCR seems to be now cozying up to Congress going by his support to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on an incident. If KCR's close allies are to be believed, the Chief Minister will go all out on March 10, the day results of Assembly elections to Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa will be announced and if BJP gets a drubbing. Elections are being held in these states from February 10 to March 3. "You will see KCR in action on March 10. You know why? The results of 5 States will be out and he expects a drubbing for BJP. If not, he will change tune and accept public mandate or float another theory," remarked a MLC.

To recall, following his volatile press meet which reflected a growing gap between KCR and Modi, he skipped to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad Airport when the latter arrived here to inaugurate Saint Ramanuja's statue of equality near Shamshabad near here citing "sickness" first and later claiming "its personal visit of PM and no need for CM to receive." Instead, he sent Animal Husbandry Minister T Srinivas Yadav as Minister in waiting to receive and send off the Prime Minister.