Amit Shah kicks off 3-day Telangana visit

His pledge to capture power in the southern state described as BJP’s ‘mind game’

BJP president Amit Shah yesterday kicked off his three-day tour of Telangana with a declaration that his party will form the next government in Telangana.

However, the other opposition parties have rejected the claim describing it as “mind game” of the BJP.

On the first day, Shah visited Theratupalli village in Nalgonda district. He was accorded a warm welcome by the state BJP leaders and workers at the Shamshabad International Airport. In Theratupalli he hoisted the party flag and unveiled the statue of G Maisaiah Goud, former BJP president of Nalgonda district who was shot dead by Maoists in 1990s.

Later, Shah went around the village going door-to-door talking to people about their problems and local issues. He also wanted to know whether the benefits of various schemes of Narendra Modi government were reaching them or not.

He also met the families of the people who had died during the armed struggle against the Nizam government before 1948.

Later he urged the BJP cadres to remain in close touch with the people and educate them about various programmes and policies of the central government.

The choice of Nalgonda as first stop by Shah assumes significance because this backward district of Telangana was traditionally a Left stronghold but their grip over it has crumbled in the last few elections and the Congress and the TRS have made inroads.

It is one of those pockets where the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has not yet become invincible and the BJP sees an opportunity to strengthen itself.

There were speculations ahead of Shah’s visit that some leaders of other parties would join the BJP.

While the ruling TRS was keeping a close watch on the visit, some senior leaders of Congress started criticising the BJP as soon as it announced Shah’s visit.

Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao said Shah’s visit was part of operation Akarsh to lure the leaders of other parties.