Telangana: KCR announces BRS-BSP alliance for Lok Sabha polls

Hyderabad: In a significant political move, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have announced an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. After meeting with BSP state president RS Praveen Kumar at his residence in Nandi Nagar, Hyderabad, on Tuesday, BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) reached a decision in this regard.

Speaking to the media, KCR made it clear that there would be an honourable alliance with the BSP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Both the parties have the same opinion and ideology, be it the schemes implemented by the previous BRS government like Dalit Bandhu, residential schools and welfare measures taken for Dalits and weaker sections of the society, he said, and added that a proposal for an alliance between both parties was discussed.

KCR further said that Praveen Kumar had discussed with his high command over the alliance. “We will announce the seat adjustment, alliance procedures and other aspects on Wednesday or Thursday. Both the BRS and BSP will contest in the parliamentary constituencies in the state,” KCR said. Asked about RS Praveen Kumar’s candidature as an MP from Nagarkurnool, KCR said that Praveen Kumar could contest for any seat in Nagarkurnool, Peddapalli, Warangal or any general seat.

BRS announces five MP seats

So far, the BRS announced its five candidates-- Nama Nageswara Rao (Khammam), B Vinod Kumar (Karimnagar), Maloth Kavitha (Mahabubabad), Koppula Eswar (Peddapalli) and Manne Srinivas Reddy (Mahabubnagar). Of the announced candidates, KCR retained two sitting MPs Nama Nageswara Rao and Maloth Kavitha from their respective constituencies, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. KCR even convened a meeting with leaders of Mahabubnagar and Nagarkurnool at Telangana Bhavan on Tuesday. However, he didn't announced the candidate for Nagarkurnool parliamentary constituency. Sources said that RS Praveen Kumar would be contested as an MP from Nagarkurnool as part of their alliance with the BRS.

Secularism is in danger

RS Praveen Kumar said, “Telangana is under threat from the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), that's why we are contesting the Lok Sabha elections with the BRS. I am very happy to meet KCR. Secularism is in danger. The BJP is conspiring to divide the country and scrap the constitution. We will save the state with the support of KCR, who has always protected secularism, and move ahead with the support of Mayawati.”

Seat share, future course of action soon

The BSP state president also said that future courses of action would be disclosed after adjusting the seats. KCR would speak to Mayawati and the alliance would change the lives of Telangana people and the lives of the masses would surely improve. On the Congress government ruling in the state, RS Praveen said that unemployed youth are not with the Congress government, and they would soon hit the streets. “We are United and confident that the people of Telangana will bless us,” he said.

BSP fielded its candidates in 20 Assembly constituencies

Earlier in the Telangana Assembly elections, the BSP fielded its candidates in 20 Assembly constituencies across the state going by its presence in tribal areas. While nine of the 20 seats belong to the general category, eight are reserved for Scheduled Castes and the remaining three for Scheduled Tribes. RS Praveen Kumar contested from Sirpur and faced a poll debacle. The BSP state president secured as many as 44,646 votes. However, the BJP emerged victorious in this constituency, with the BRS securing the second position.