The Leader of the Opposition in the Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir today said the result of the Warangal Lok Sabha by-election was due to the fear among the voters of the discontinuance of welfare schemes if the TRS lost the by-election.
Addressing the media at the Congress Legislature Party office Wednesday, Shabbir Ali said that the TRS cadre had spread veiled threats that the State government would stop pensions, deny DBR houses and discontinue other welfare schemes if the ruling Party candidate P Dayakar lost the by-election. Therefore, the people of Warangal had to vote for the ruling party.
"However, we welcome and respect the people's verdict," he said.
Referring to the claims made by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao that the TRS was enjoying the masses' support, Shabbir Ali dared the former to seek re-election to all the 13 Assembly seats being represented by MLAs who had defected from other parties to the TRS.
KCR should make all the defected MLAs resign and seek re-election, he demanded.
Reacting to KCR's objection to criticism by Opposition parties, Shabbir Ali said that they were willing to give constructive suggestions, but for that, the Chief Minister should convene all-Party meetings on major issues.
He said that while drought had not been declared for the last whole year, the TRS government declared 231 mandals as drought-hit finally on Tuesday.
"The Congress still welcomes the decision and will support the TRS government in getting the Rs 1,000-crore package sought from the Centre," he added.
Similarly, the Congress leader also welcomed KCR's assurance on filling of the posts of Vice-Chancellors in all State universities.
Shabbir Ali also said that his Party would extend full support to the TRS in confronting the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for the injustices meted out to Telangana.
He also said that all the assurances made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act including a 4,000 MW NTPC power plant and national status for the Pranahita Chevella project should be fulfilled, and that Telangana Congress would support the TRS MPs in Parliament in pursuing these demands with the Centre.
Separately, TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka also alleged that the ruling party leaders had threatened the voters that the present welfare programs would be discontinued if the TRS candidate lost the Warangal election.
Speaking to the media at Gandhi Bhavan on Wednesday, Vikramarka alleged that the TRS leaders blackmailed the voters saying that welfare schemes like pensions and loan waiver schemes would be halted in case the TRS candidate lost the election.
Recalling Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's assurance that he would not ask for votes if he failed to ensure supply of drinking water to every household, Bhatti demanded that KCR also announce that he would ask for votes only after fulfilling the election promises made by him.
He also opined that
the incident in former MP Sircilla Rajaiah's residence showed great impact on the Warangal by-election.
Reacting to Nalgonda MP Gutha Sukhender Reddy's statement that the Congress was ready for an electoral alliance with the TDP, Bhatti said that the Party would decide on entering alliances depending upon the conditions.
"As of now, the party has no such thinking. We will take decisions depending upon the situation," he said.