Voters Will Reject BJP Due To Fuel Prices: Harish Rao

Telangana Finance Minister T Harish Rao today appealed to the voters of the Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar graduates' constituency to support the TRS' candidate for the upcoming MLC elections, Surabhi Vani Devi, claiming that she would work for the development of the area, and would devote herself to addressing the issues of the people.

Rao, who was put in charge of the elections in the constituency, made the appeal to the graduate voters while speaking at a campaign meeting in Uppal.

Lashing out at the TRS' primary rival, the BJP, the minister asked its leaders why they expected the people of the state to support its candidates in the MLC elections even after the BJP-led Centre had failed to deal with the "huge rise" in the prices of various essential commodities, including fuel.

"The BJP-led Centre has shown its utter lack of concern for the people of the nation with its negligent handling of the problem of ever-increasing fuel prices. Petrol, diesel and even LPG cylinders have become inaccessible to the poor and middle-class sections of Indian society today. Why then should anybody support the BJP?" he asked.

The leader also lambasted the ruling party's other rival, the Congress, and accused the latter of thinking of Telangana only during the elections in the state.

"Why does the Congress only think of the state in the run-up to the elections? It neglected the Telangana region even when it was in power in undivided Andhra Pradesh. Like the BJP, the Congress too has no right to seek the votes of our people," he thundered.

Rao then went on to highlight the achievements of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and the TRS regime.

"It was CM KCR who helped the people of Telangana realise their dream of having their own state, after a long and bitter battle with the Centre. In the subsequent years, despite inadequate funds from the Centre, he then developed the state, and has been working tirelessly for the welfare of the people. Our Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Vedika programs, Mission Kakatiya, KCR kits, irrigation projects and housing initiative are just some of the schemes that have benefitted scores of people in the state. The Opposition should therefore refrain from launching misinformation campaigns against the TRS and the CM. The Left parties should also avoid slandering our party," he warned.

The minister also claimed that there was no use of voting for the BJP, the Congress or the parties of the Left in the upcoming MLC elections as they were not in power in the state, and would only "hinder" its development.

Highlighting the fact that the TRS candidate, Vani Devi, was a noted educationist who had years of experience in the sector, Rao claimed that she was well-suited for the post as she was a humble and upright person whose know-how and insight would allow her to work for the graduates of the state