Maha CM calls on KCR to discuss Oppn front
HYDERABAD: Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, who has been rallying opposition forces against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, will meet Maharashtra counterpart and Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray on February 20.
An official release from the chief minister’s office (CMO) on Wednesday said Thackeray called on KCR and invited him to Mumbai for a meeting to deliberate on stepping up the fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre.
“The chief minister reciprocated to the gesture and will be leaving for Mumbai on February 20 morning to discuss various issues with the Maharashtra chief minister,” the official release said.
Thackeray lauded KCR’s efforts to raise his voice against the divisive forces of the nation in order to protect the country and its people.
The Sena chief said his party would extend full support to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi president’s fight for the rights of the states, which are being allegedly usurped by the Centre and for denouncing the anti-people policies of the Narendra Modi government, the release said.
“KCR ji, you must continue to fight for the rights of the States and the integrity of the country. Please continue with the same spirit and we will extend our complete support. We will do our part to mobilise all the people of the country in this direction. I invite you to Mumbai and enjoy our hospitality. At the same time, let us discuss the future course of action,” the release quoted Thackeray as telling KCR during the telephone conversation.
A senior Sena functionary said: “Uddhav ji, in his brief conversation, extended support to the Telangana CM’s efforts to unite regional parties to join forces against the Centre. This is in line with what Uddhav ji has been saying in the overreach of the Centre. States have to come together to defend the federal structure of the country.”
Senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut earlier called KCR’s initiative an important step in the direction of forming a stronger opposition against the BJP-led government.
“Developments on the national level have started in regards to 2024 and this is an important step in that direction. The meeting (between the two leaders) will happen soon. Uddhav ji, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka [Gandhi Vadra] ji, Akhilesh ji, all are in contact with each other,” Raut said.
On Tuesday, former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president H D Deve Gowda had called on KCR and extended support to him in his fight against the saffron party. A CMO spokesperson, quoting Gowda, said the JD (S) would stand by the TRS president, who was fighting “very well” against the alleged communal elements so as to protect the country’s secularism and its diverse culture.
West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee on Monday also spoke to the TRS president and appreciated his fight against the Centre.