Telangana gyaan: Why is pink the colour of the TRS?

HIGHLIGHTS

Friday’s election in Telangana is one of a series of 5 recent state polls
They’re widely seen as a semi-final before the Lok Sabha election
Results of the assembly polls will be out on December 11

How many shades of pink are there? You could do a Google image search and marvel at the little panels that pop up.

Or, you could simply head to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi’s (TRS) Twitter page.

Scarves, caps, vehicles and even a mic resembling a cone of strawberry ice cream — it’s all a little overwhelming. But why is the party of K Chandrashekhar Rao, the caretaker chief minister, smitten with the colour of flamingoes and romance?

It represents peace and love. That’s what Vinod Kumar, a TRS MP, has been quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

And this, he added, is why the TRS chose it in 2001, when Chandrashkhar Rao began the movement for a separate state (separate from Andhra Pradesh, that is).

Chandrashekhar Rao, 64, often simply known as “KCR”, faces an assembly on Friday, December 5. The results of an India Today survey contain good news for the TRS: 48 per cent of respondents backed the current government, up from 44 per cent last month.

Standing in Rao’s way is an alliance between the Congress and three other parties: The Telugu Desam Party, the Communist Party of India and the Telangana Jana Samithi. The BJP is also contesting the election, in all 119 seats.

Will Hyderabad’s streets be awash in pink on counting day? Well, we’ll have to wait and see. (December 11: Mark your calendars.)

But one thing’s for sure: India’s political parties are quickly running out of colours. Think about it: Saffron? BJP. Red? CPI-M. Green? JD-S and AIMIM. Blue? BSP. Yellow? TDP.

At this rate, we may soon have to look beyond the visible spectrum of light!

Nitin Gadkari confident of BJP forming govt in Chhattisgarh, MP & Rajasthan

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday exude 100 percent confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form its government in the current elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. While talking about what the BJP government has done and it is doing for the development of Rajasthan, Nitin Gadkari said, “I have toured Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and I am very confident that the BJP will form the Government again in all three states with majority.”

Telangana Polls 2018: MP Kavitha says K Chandrashekhar Rao alone will suffice to bring TRS back to power

Kavitha also expressed confidence that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS) will win 100 seats in the 119-member house in the assembly elections scheduled on December 7.

Asserting that the existence of the TRS hinges on the “popularity” of its chief K Chandrashekhar Rao, his daughter and MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha said on November 25 that only he alone can bring the ruling party to power again in Telangana and rubbished suggestions it had a “covert” understanding with the BJP.

Kavitha, 40, also expressed confidence that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS) will win 100 seats in the 119-member house in the assembly elections scheduled on December 7.

“My leader is my party. His vision is Telangana development. They cannot be separated and looked at in isolation,” Kavitha told PTI in an exclusive interview.

“It is KCR’s vision which got Telangana state. It is KCR’s vision which put Telangana on a development path. That visionary leader is our strength. He is the one who will win us back in the government.”

Rejecting suggestions that her party had a “covert” understanding with the BJP, Kavitha accused the Congress of spreading such rumours to get minority votes.

Asked if her brother K T Rama Rao, caretaker IT and Industries Minister, will be the next chief minister, Kavitha said: “TRS will come to power and all of us in the party including my brother would see KCR as chief minister. We want KCR to lead the government.”

K Chandrashekhar Rao is popularly known as KCR

The comments come in the backdrop of widely believed power tussle between KCR’s son and his nephew T Harish Rao, a popular leader from Siddipet district and also a caretaker irrigation minister.

Kavitha, a Lok Sabha MP from Nizamabad, said there is no power tussle between these two leaders and even if it exists the prospects of TRS will not be affected.

“TRS is certainly going to win 100 seats. Even repeating of all sitting MLAs will not affect as they have been given tickets after vetting their performance,” she said.

She also said that post state elections, KCR will “certainly be playing a very big role in national politics.”

The newly formed state has 17 Lok Sabha seats.

Rubbishing allegations that the TRS was promoting dynasty politics, Kavitha said, “When political parties do not have any serious issues, then they try to bring non-issues. They try to make an issue out of non-issue.”

She mentioned that her family members were deeply involved in the Telangana movement. “Later, we were individually and independently elected by people of Telangana. We are not sitting on nominated chairs but elected by the people. So, these allegations do not make any sense. It is a non-issue.”

Dismissing any threat from the Congress-led Mahakutami, Kavitha said, “TDP is practically not present on the ground. Congress till date was a primary organisation but it is very distant for us. Rest two parties have zero cadre. How do you expect these parties suddenly becoming super power?”

The Mahakutami is a grand alliance comprising Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS).

Asked about candidates facing backlash from people over the party’s unkept promises of the 2014 election manifesto, Kavitha highlighted several promises been implemented including the KG-to-PG education scheme, irrigation projects, pension, scholarships among others.

“There is no backlash from the people. There is backlash from political parties. TRS is the only party which has fulfilled almost each and every promises made in the 2014 polls,” she said, and claimed the TRS government also cleared the Rs 11,000 crore debt of the Congress government.

“Opposition may say we have failed (to fulfill promises). We have not failed, we have begun work in all schemes. The schemes which cannot be stalled, the opposition says they are not working. …The work is in progress in various programmes.”

As far as 12 per cent job quota for religious minorities and scheduled tribes is concerned, Kavitha said, “We have passed a resolution in the assembly and it will be sent to the central government for approval.

“If the Centre approves, we will implement. If they reject, then we will appeal in the Supreme Court and get it done just like the Tamil Nadu model,” she said.

Attacking the Centre for “neither approving nor rejecting” the state’s proposal, Kavitha said: “The reponsiblity now lies on the BJP. We have done our job. We fought in Parliament for minority and ST reservation. The BJP government did not budge. It is on them (BJP) and not on TRS.”

She, however, said the TRS will keep the promise. “Whichever government comes back to power at Centre, we will continue to fight and make sure we get the reservation.”

Rebuking Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s allegations on rise in farmers suicides under the TRS rule, Kavitha said, “Farmers suicides were not the result of the TRS rule in Telangana. It is the result of misrule of Congress and TDP. …After the TRS came to power, I can challenge and tell you that the rate of farmers suicides is on the decline.”

The schemes to provide irrigation and incentives to farmers under Rytha Bandhu programme will help farmers come out of debt trap. “Once the debt trap is broken, there won’t be difficulties for farmers and suicides rate will automatically come down.”

Hitting out at the NDA government , Kavitha said, “We have not got a high court despite asking for it in the last four and half years. The new state was ignored by the Centre which did not give enough grants. The kind of help NDA has given to its allies, certainly not given to Telangana.

Disclaimer: RSS has been taken from their official website.

Rajasthan: Now, Brahmins want their share in electoral cake

The Brahmin community has decided to go aggressive with its demand for political space in Rajasthan. All India body of Brahmins Vipra Foundation has declared a charter of demands which prominently includes 40 seats to the community by each party, reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS) and abolition of reservation in promotion. This charter of demands will be handed to both BJP and Congress.

National convenor of Vipra Foundation Sushil Ojha declared that they will take out a rath yatra from November 15 in three zones of Rajasthan to urge the community to aggressively come out and vote for those who support their demands. “We will take out a rath yatra in Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur zones, each having 11 districts. Our community has given four chief ministers and at one time represented over 62 seats; today we are limited to just 16 seats.

Even those seats that are Brahmin dominated get candidates from other communities. Political parties have been appeasing other communities at the cost of Brahmins because we are a peaceful community. We will seek to bring awareness for our rightful political space,” said Ojha.

Brahmins can decide the electoral fate of over 50 seats. While the community has traditionally supported BJP, it has been the cause of concern for BJP since it aggressively voted against the ruling party in bypolls. Congress by giving a ticket to Raghu Sharma for the Ajmer Parliamentary seat had gained their support.

The Vipra Foundation has also submitted a data sheet that is based on a survey. It says that 55 seats have 25000 to 55000 Brahmins, while in 10 assembly seats they are above 60000. The average voter strength of a seat is around 2 lakh.

“We will not suggest candidates to the parties, it is for them to decide. All we want is that Brahmins should be given tickets. We are facing existential crisis in politics and its a fight for survival,” added Ojha.

BJP’s efforts to appease Rajputs, Jats and Dalits while ignoring the Brahmins has further caused their alienation.

In these circumstances, the demands of Brahmin community assume importance.

Disclaimer: RSS has been taken from their official website.

Unemployment dole and other welfare measures in TRS manifest

IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao on Saturday stated that the ensuing elections were referendum to the TRS government’s development agenda and Congress party’s credibility among people. He assured that the TRS would develop Vemulawada into a temple city over the next four-five years after retaining power in the State.

Addressing the Congress and BJP leaders from erstwhile Karimnagar district who joined TRS at his camp office in Hyderabad on Saturday, Rama Rao dared the Congress leadership to declare that the elections were a referendum to their work and credibility as the main Opposition party in the State. “In the past four and half years, the TRS government took up several development projects and welfare schemes. Rather than playing the role of main Opposition entrusted by the people of the State, the Congress leaders were interested only in obstructing the development projects by the TRS government. People will teach them a lesson for their deeds,” he predicted.

The Minister lashed out at the Congress and BJP for injustice done to Telangana State over several decades. He held the Congress responsible for sad condition of the region, he blamed the BJP government for injustice done to the State in the last four and half years. He accused BJP National President Amit Shah for taking credit for the State development without even fulfilling the promises made under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. “People of Telangana do not believe in communal and religious politics. Instead, they believe in development. The TRS government had not only ensured religious equality but also took up numerous development programmes which will won support from people in a large scale,” he added.

Rama Rao said an action plan has been prepared for development of Sri Rajarajeswara Swamy temple at Vemulawada besides laying foundation for several development programmes including Outer Ring Road, new bus terminal and tourism projects. He assured that the temple city will be developed on all spheres over next four-five years. He reiterated that TRS leadership does not fear Delhi-based politics as its bosses were people on the streets of Telangana State.

TRS candidate from Vemulawada Chennamaneni Ramesh and several other senior TRS leaders were present. BJP Karimnagar Parliamentary Constituency convener Y Srinivasa Rao, Congress senior leader Sridhar Rao, Rajanna-Siricilla district BJYM secretary Shashank and 300 others Congress and BJP leaders as well as activists joined TRS on the occasion.

Disclaimer: RSS has been taken from their official website.

18 fresh cases of Zika in Rajasthan, total reaches 50

At least 18 more people have tested positive for Zika virus in Rajasthan’s Jaipur as of Friday.

A total of ten new cases of the virus came up in Shastri Nagar locality and 276 teams have been deployed in the affected wards.

The total number of people tested positive for Zika virus has reached 50 in Jaipur. Almost 11,313 houses were surveyed out of which 2,282 were positive for mosquito breeding. With over 39,000

containers have been checked out of which 3,567 are positive for larvae. For preventive measures, 133 blood and urine samples have been collected and sent to SMS Hospital.

Earlier, a department official had said that 30 of the total cases were doing fine after treatment.

At the review meeting, measures taken to contain the situation were discussed.

The first case came to light on September 22. The area has been fogged to prevent the spreading of virus.

The department has also issued an advisory for pregnant women staying outside Shastri Nagar not to visit the area.

A control room has been activated at the National Centre for Disease Control to monitor the situation.

The number of monitoring teams in Jaipur has been increased from 50 to 170 and a special isolation ward has been created at the Hira Bagh Training Centre to treat the Zika virus-affected patients.

A team from the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) recently found Zika virus in some mosquitoes taken as samples from Shastri Nagar, leading to suspicion they are behind the infection.
Dr Neena Valecha, the NIMR director, had earlier said the virus appears to be locally transmitted.

The state government has been provided information, education and communication (IEC) material prepared to create awareness about Zika virus and prevention strategies.

The Zika virus, transmitted through Aedes aegypti mosquito, causes fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain. It is harmful to pregnant women, as it can lead to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than expected, in newborn children.

In India, the first outbreak was reported in Ahmedabad in January 2017 and the second was reported in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district in July that year. Both these outbreaks were successfully contained through intensive surveillance and vector management, the ministry had said earlier.

The disease continues to be on surveillance radars of the Union Health Ministry although it is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under WHO notification since November 18, 2016.

Disclaimer: RSS has been taken from their official website.

TRS Nalgonda meeting: KCR showcases four years of TRS rule

TRS party chief and caretaker chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao began the public meeting in Nalgonda with the introduction of the party candidates who are contesting for the upcoming elections.

KCR recalled the Nalgonda people participation in Rythu agitation and Telangana movement saying that he shares a special bond with them. He also added that the people strength had given him to achieve statehood.

TRS has come to power when the state is having a tough time with the suicides of farmers and power crisis.

KCR also took the names of the schemes which are benefitting to the people like Mission Bhagiratha, 24-hour power supply for farmers, hike in salaries of Anganwadi and municipal workers.

He also said that the government has waived the loans of the poor farmers.

KCR also said that the government has increased the capacity of food processing units to 23 lakh metric tonnes from 18 lakh adding that the state had only 4 lakh metric tonnes.

The Sheep scheme proposed in the state has become a drastic hit with the distribution of 65 lakh sheep, KCR said. Earlier, the state used to import sheep, he added.

Following TRS candidate list announcement, here’s who defected from the party

Jumping ship according to the political weather is not new. The Telangana Assembly led by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was dissolved on September 6, and the state has since been gearing up for elections. The party released a list of 105 candidates out of 119 for the constituencies in Telangana, and has resulted in a few defections.

Defections from the TRS

K Shiva Kumar Reddy: He won from Narayanpet in the Assembly 2014 elections on a TRS ticket. Along with his followers, he joined the Congress on September 5. Shiva Kumar said that he and his followers were disillusioned by the false promises made by the TRS.

Bhupathi Reddy: a member of the TRS for 14 years resigned from the party and joined Congress on September 15. Speaking to media after his resignation, Reddy claimed he was forced to leave the party as TRS was giving priority to those who betrayed Telangana. He is expected to contest from Nizamabad Rural constituency.

Ramesh Rathod: A former Member of Parliament, Ramesh had joined the TRS in 2017. He had jumped ship from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). After he was not given a ticket to contest from Khanapur (ST) in the upcoming Assembly polls by the TRS, a disgruntled Ramesh joined the Congress on September 20. He was a former Politburo member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Konda Surekha: The Women and Child Welfare Minister in the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government in united Andhra Pradesh, Surekha joined the Congress along with her husband, Konda Muralidhar Rao, an MLC. They joined the Congress from the TRS on September 26. They defected to the Congress after Surekha was upset that her name did not feature in the list of 105 candidates that TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao released. Surekha was first elected as an MLA in 1999 on a Congress ticket. She then resigned from the party in 2011, and joined the YSR Congress Party. Later, she contested the 2014 elections on a TRS ticket.

Bera Satyanarayana: On October 2, Mancherial Mandal Parishad president Bera Satyanarayana joined the Bahujan Samaj Party. He resigned from the TRS in protest of the party’s decision to give the ticket to sitting MLA N Diwakar.

Defections to the TRS

KR Suresh Reddy: Formerly the Assembly Speaker in united Andhra Pradesh, Suresh joined the TRS on September 7. He was invited to join the TRS by Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao shortly after the Telangana assembly was dissolved. Earlier, Suresh has contested from both Balkonda and Armoor constituencies of Nizamabad district. Which seat he will be contesting from this time is yet to be decided.

BJP planning to field MPs in Chhattisgarh Assembly elections?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is determined to make it four out of four in Chhattisgarh in the upcoming Assembly elections and if reports are to be believed, the ruling party could even field MPs in the state election. According to a report in Naidunia, the saffron party is considering candidature of five MPs for the upcoming polls and they include Ramesh Bais (Raipur), Saroj Pandey (Rajya Sabha), Lakhan Lal Sahu (Bilaspur), Kamalbhan Singh (Sarguja) and Abhishek Singh (Rajnandgaon). Citing sources, the report said Bais could be fielded from Raipur City Grameen while Pandey could get a ticket from Durg. Pandey, also the BJP’s national general secretary, has reportedly not declined to contest the Assembly elections. When asked whether she would contest from Durg MLA Arun Vora, Pandey said she has always stood by what her party has decided and there would be no exception in future either, the report added. The BJP is looking for a strong leader in Durg after the death of senior leader Hemchand Yadav in April and Pandey could be its find.

Similarly, the BJP may field Sahu from Mungeli, Kamalbhan from Ambikapur and Abhishek from Kawardha constituencies, the report added. Of these three, Mungeli and Kawardha have BJP MLAs while Ambikapur has a Congress representative. The BJP is cautious this year to replace its weaker MLAs and replace them with strong faces, even if they are MPs. The BJP is in power in the central Indian state, which was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, since 2003.

The party has embarked on Mission 65 plus in Chhattisgarh this year, a figure which they are yet to touch in their decade-and-a-half rule in the state.