KCR TO CAMPAIGN FOR JD(S) IN KARNATAKA

Says there is a need for an alternative political system

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday appealed to Telugu speaking people in Karnataka to vote for Janata Dal (Secular) in the Assembly elections on May 12.

Mr Rao offered to campaign for the JD(S) in Karnataka.

The meeting of Mr Rao with the JD (S) chief and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has raised some political eyebrows because the Janata Dal parties are known to have good ties with the BJP.

The JD(S) had earlier tied up with the BJP in Karnataka while the JD(U) led by Nitish Kumar in Bihar is running a coalition government with the BJP.

Earlier, the CM left for Bengaluru by a special flight from Begumpet airport accompanied by actor Prakash Raj and TRS leaders to meet the JD(S) chief. The two leaders discussed national politics and Mr Rao’s proposed Federal Front against the BJP and the Congress. Page 6: KCR has room for all parties Page 6: CM blames Congress, BJP governments for water wars

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday said that water wars existed between states in India because of the failure of the Congress and BJP governments at the Centre.

Speaking to the media along with JD(S) chief H.D. Deve Gowda in Bengaluru, Mr Rao asked why Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were fighting for Cauvery water when there was an abundance of water in the country.

Mr Rao lashed out at the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal on Krishna Water sharing for failing to resolve the dispute. “Can’t the Centre issue a mandate for the Tribunal to deliver its verdict within six months or one year. 14 years have already passed since the set-up of the Tribunal, but it has failed to resolve the issue. If someone approaches a court, the case may go on for years. Ultimately, people and farmers are suffering due to lack of water for irrigation and drinking purposes,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that successive Congressand BJP-led governments at the Centre had failed for 65 years, and people from all sections of society were bearing the brunt of their failure. “There is a need for an alternative political system in India,” he said, adding that he would work towards the development of that system with the support of leaders like Deve Gowda.

Mr Gowda appreciated Mr Rao for implementing innovative schemes in Telangana for the welfare of farmers, women, and other sections of society. He also praised his efforts towards setting up a new political front at the national level.

Mr Gowda said Mr Rao had explained to him the measures that needed to be implemented for the welfare of farmers and other sections of the society.

He said that Mr Kumaraswamy had announced the agenda of the JD(S) for the Karnataka elections. “The agenda includes some programmes that KCR has mentioned. We will include more of what he has told us so that we can work towards uplifting the poor,” Mr Gowda said.

Mr Rao added, “We are not here to play silly politics. Deve Gowda has already been the Prime Minister. And I have achieved my dream of ruling Telangana state; I am a successful Chief Minister. Our common desire is to bring a qualitative change in the country that both the BJP and the Congress have failed to achieve.”

Both the leaders refused to talk about Mr Rao’s meeting with Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

“Any party that agrees with the agenda that we put forward is most welcome to join the People's Front or Farmers' Front, whatever name we decide to call it,” Mr Rao said.