With Assembly elections nearing, the BJP has brought its top leaders for campaigning in Telangana. Further strengthening its election pitch, PM Modi announced its commitment on BC candidate as the first CM of Telangana.
Published Nov 07, 2023 | 9:21 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 07, 2023 | 9:21 PM
A screenshot from the live video of PM Modi with Telangana BJP leaders and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan at OBC meeting in Hyderabad.
The BJP believes it is the Backward Classes (BCs) who will help it on its path to power in Telangana. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was recently unequivocal that the saffron party’s chief minister, should it come to power, would be from the BC community, which accounts for over 50 percent of the state’s population.
In his first major rally ahead of Assembly elections at the LB Nagar Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday, 7 November, no less that Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided his stamp of approval to the assurance.
The rally, appropriately called BC Atma Gaurava (Self-respect) Sabha, saw Modi not only endorse the idea, but list all that the BJP has done for the Backward Classes.
“I became the prime minister with the blessings I received in the state when I came to Telangana. With the same blessings, the BJP’s first chief minister in Telangana will be from the Backward Classes. Both the Congress and the BRS will never appoint a BC candidate as chief minister,” Modi said at the rally, attended by an estimated 25,000 people.
He added: “The Union government boasts 27 OBC ministers in the Cabinet, and the BJP has 85 OBC MPs and 365 OBC MLAs across India.”
Telangana BJP chief and Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, BJP MP and its OBC Morcha national president Dr K Laxman, BJP MLA and its Telangana Election Management Committee chairman Eatala Rajender, BJP MP and its national general secretary Bandi Sanjay Kumar attended the meeting.
Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan as well as several other leaders were also in attendance.
ये NDA है, BJP है, जो ओबीसी हितों का सबसे ज्यादा ध्यान रखती है, उन्हें सबसे ज्यादा प्रतिनिधित्व देती है।
केंद्र की NDA सरकार में 27 ओबीसी मंत्री हैं, जो आजादी के बाद सबसे ज्यादा हैं।
आज देश में बीजेपी के 85 OBC सांसद हैं।
आज देश में बीजेपी के 365 OBC विधानसभा सदस्य हैं।
आज देश… pic.twitter.com/8eI6mf8Yn0— BJP (@BJP4India) November 7, 2023
He continued: “It was the BJP that appointed APJ Abdul Kalam as the President of India. We also supported tribal candidate PA Sangma and GMC Balayogi as the Lok Sabha Speaker, and BC candidates as President, including Ram Nath Kovind. Even now, the President Droupadi Murmu has been appointed by us.”
Modi launched a scathing attack on the ruling BRS and its chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR.
Contending that the BRS had betrayed the people of on three issues: Water, funds, and employment.
The BRS focused more on the “family” than on the people of Telangana, he said, referring to KCR and his kin.
“There isn’t much of a difference between the Congress and the BRS: Both operate on the same principles of dynasticism, corruption, and appeasement. So, vote for the BJP and ensure that the lotus blooms here so that the double-engine government can function,” said the prime minister, referencing the BJP pitch on the advantage of having the same party on power in the state and in the Union government.
Attacking BRS on the Delhi Liquor Scam case, Modi warned, “The thread of BRS corruption leads to the Delhi liquor scam. When the investigation starts, the investigating agencies are being abused. But, I want to tell you that there will be a thorough investigation into this corruption.”
Modi’s comment came against the backdrop of the Congress charge that the BJP and the BRS have a tacit understanding, and that is the reason that KCR’s daughter, BRS MLC K Kavitha — who has been questioned by both the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the liquor scam — has not be arrested so far.
The people of Telangana have been betrayed by the anti-people government on the issues of Water, Money and Employment!
– PM @narendramodi #BCsWithBJP pic.twitter.com/9NM50Sj24M
— BJP (@BJP4India) November 7, 2023
At a time his party is engaged in negotiations with the BJP over seat-haring for the 30 November Assembly election, Jana Sena actor-politician chief Pawan Kalyan endorse the prime minister: “It is easy to say that we will appoint a chief minister from a particular community, but making it happen is difficult.”
He added: “Under Modi’s leadership, a Telangana with a BC chief minister will become a reality, and the Jana Sena will provide complete support.”
Taking an indirect dig at the Congress, he said, “There have been no terrorist attacks under Narendra Modi. He instilled confidence and told the world that if you attack us, we will enter your land and retaliate.”
He also said: “The development that was supposed to take three decades happened in just one decade under Modi. He should become the prime minister once again.”
