In the meeting in Hyderabad, they reportedly discussed the need for a credible alternative to the BJP.
Published Jul 03, 2023 | 11:04 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 03, 2023 | 11:07 PM
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is welcomed in Hyderabad by Telangana CHief Minister and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao on Monday, 3 July, 2023. (Supplied)
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi unequivocally declared that his party would have nothing to do with the Opposition unity efforts if the BRS was made a partner of the coalition, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav flew down to Hyderabad on Monday, 3 July, and had a lengthy discussion with Telangana Chief Minister and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao.
At the meeting held at the Telangana chief minister’s official residence, Pragati Bhavan, in Hyderabad, they are said to have discussed the need to craft a credible alternative to the BJP.
The SP was one of the 17 outfits that attended the Opposition party’s conclave in Patna on 23 June, convened by Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar at his residence.
It was said that the BRS was not invited to the meeting because the constituents were not very sure of KCR’s anti-BJP credentials.
Voicing his party’s suspicion that the BRS was the B-team of the BJP, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that the party’s abbreviated name actually stood for BJP-Rishtedar Samiti.
He added that he had told the other Opposition parties who attended the Patna conference that if KCR was in, the Congress would be out of the Opposition’s unity efforts.
It may be noted that Telangana IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao — son of KCR — took serious exception to Rahul’s remarks.
On Monday, he sought to turn the tables on the Congress leader, calling the AICC the “All India Corruption Committee”.
Akhilesh Yadav is understood to have, on Sunday, briefed him about the contents of the meeting in Patna and invited him to be present at the next meeting of the Opposition parties at Bengaluru on 17 and 18 July before the commencement of the monsoon session of Parliament on 20 July.
As the Congress is the principal Opposition party in Telangana, KCR cannot afford to be seen rubbing shoulders with Congress leaders in Bengaluru.
He may not be attending the meeting also because he made his stand very clear in the past that he had no faith in fronts as such formations had failed to deliver in the past.
He said what was needed was not to push a single-point agenda of defeating one person but continuing to work for better governance. In other words, the fighting should focus on policies and not on individuals.
After arriving in Hyderabad, Akhilesh Yadav said that the aim of all the Opposition parties was to see that the BJP was dislodged from power at the Centre. He said all parties who were fighting against the BJP should come together.
It would not be an overstatement to say that the Akhilesh-KCR meeting generated immense interest, since Akhilesh — who was on the Congress’ side at the Patna meeting on 23 June — was seen with KCR, who is the Congress’ rival, on Monday. It remains to be seen what the two leaders are up to.
Samajwadi Party chief Sri @yadavakhilesh meets BRS President, CM Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao at Pragathi Bhavan in Hyderabad.
సమాజ్ వాది పార్టి జాతీయ అధ్యక్షుడు, మాజీ సీఎం శ్రీ అఖిలేష్ యాదవ్, బీఆర్ఎస్ జాతీయ అధ్యక్షులు, ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ కె.చంద్రశేఖర్ రావుతో ప్రగతి భవన్ లో… pic.twitter.com/GUnucsQyOJ
— BRS Party (@BRSparty) July 3, 2023
