Telangana CM KCR calls for ‘Congress, BJP mukt Bharat’

Karimnagar (Telangana), March 18 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister and TRS President K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Sunday launched the party's election campaign with a call for 'Congress and BJP mukt Bharat'.

Addressing an election rally in this town, he blamed the two national parties for all the ills plaguing the country and underlined the need for an alternative to bring qualitative change in the national politics.

Stating he is entering national politics, Rao appealed to people to bless him.

KCR, as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President is popularly known, said a government which works with true federal spirit was required at the Centre to solve the country's problems.

Referring to the remarks by his critics as to what TRS would do at Centre with 16 MPs, KCR said 100 MPs would be with him. He claimed that not all parties were ready to go with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress.

"After elections, you will see what we are capable of doing," said KCR, who last year floated the idea of Federal Front comprising regional parties opposed to both Congress and BJP.

The TRS chief appealed to people to elect 16 candidates of TRS and his ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi in Hyderabad.

KCR targeted both the national parties. "BJP leaders say they are the only Hindus. Then what is their problem if Hindus perform puja," he asked in an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticising him during Assembly elections for performing 'puja' and conducting religious rituals.

Lok Sabha elections in Telangana are scheduled in a single phase on April 11.