Hyderabad, Sep 2: Amid speculation that K Chandrashekar Rao-led government may dissolve the Assembly and call early elections, the meeting of Telengana Cabinet ended and no such announcement was made today (September 2).
But, the suspense on early elections continue as another cabinet meeting would be held on September 6.
Speaking at the mega rally on the outskirts of Hyderabad, KCR said, "Like Tamil Nadu, Telangana should also unite to oppose other Delhi-based parties." However, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief refrained from making any announcements on early elections or forming alliances with other political parties for the 2019 elections. In the afternoon, the chief minister held a cabinet meeting at his camp office, but did not take any decision on the dissolution of the assembly. The cabinet, which approved some pending decisions, authorised KCR to take a decision on early polls. "All my party leaders, including my cabinet colleagues and MLAs, have authorised me to take a decision on dissolution of the assembly, which everybody is waiting for anxiously. I will take an appropriate decision soon and come before you," KCR said.
“In Tamil Nadu, people rule their own state with their leaders. Similarly, we shall retain power and not surrender to Delhi leadership,” he said.
"I promised that if I don't give drinking water to every household through Mission Bhagiratha before next elections, I won't contest elections. No other Chief Minister in the country would dare to say something like this," says Telangana CM.
"Some media channels are saying KCR will dissolve the govt. All TRS members have given me an opportunity to take a decision on the future of Telangana. I will tell you when I take a decision," says KCR.
“Telangana should be like Tamil Nadu. We should unite to oppose other Delhi based parties,” says KCR.
"Till now total 22,000 villages get purified water. Remaining 1300 villages will also get water in seven or eight days. I will ask the votes only after giving the water to these households," he says.
"The government has distributed 70 lakh sheep through which the shepherds got benefit of Rs 1500 crores," KCR says.
Chief minister K Chandrasekar Rao commenced his speech by recollecting the journey of the formation of Telangana Rashtriya Samiti party.
Telangana CM K. Chandrashekar Rao arrives at Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) rally venue in Ranga Reddy district.
KCR set to address today.
The suspense over KCR's decision to pre-pone the assembly elections still looms as reports say that there would be another cabinet meeting on September 6.
Amid speculation that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao may announce the dissolution of the state assembly and declare early polls, the cabinet meeting has ended and no such announcement has been made.
Telangana Congress meanwhile attacked KCR and questioned the intent of the meeting. It asked if the meeting was being organised because the CM could not fulfil his promises of controlling farmer suicides in the state. In the tweet, the opposition further said more than 4000 farmers had committed suicide in Telangana and claimed that the state was number 2 in farmers' suicides in the country.
The honorary wage of the Gopala Mithras (friend of the cowherd) has been increased to Rs 8,500. The salaries of ANM's have also been increased from Rs 11,000 to Rs 21,000, while the contractual doctors's salary has been hiked to Rs 40,000.
"We have decided to sanction Rs 70 crore and 70 acres for construction of 'self-respect' buildings for people from different castes. Honorarium for Gopal Mitras (Artificial Insemination Workers) hiked from Rs 3500 to Rs 8500," says Telangana Finance Minister Etela Rajender after cabinet meeting.
Following the Cabinet meet, ministers will leave for the rally after lunch while Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao will leave at 5.30 pm. He will deliver his speech from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Amid talk of CM KCR planning to announce dissolution of Telangana Assembly, the cabinet meeting is currently underway. The meeting began at 1 p.m. at the Pragati Bhavan, official residence of the Chief Minister.
Around 20,000 policemen have been deployed at the venue. The dias has been erected to accommodate over 600 people.
Following the cabinet meet, the public meeting will begin with cultural programmes at 2 pm and CM K Chandrasekhar Rao is likely to speak at 4 pm for 90 minutes.
: The Chief Minister’s daughter and Nizamabad MP, K Kavita, said: “He will give a fitting reply to all the Opposition parties criticising the government, by putting up all the facts and figures of the government’s good work till now.”
Telangana Chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao depicted as Lord Rama in a Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS) poster in Ranga Reddy district, ahead of the party's Pragathi Nivedhana Sabha which will be held later today
The turnout in this rally is going to be something that people will remember for a long time, it is going to be the biggest political rally ever held in India: Telangana Minister K. T. Rama Rao on TRS's Pragathi Nivedhana Sabha in Ranga Reddy district later today
Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS) rally venue in Ranga Reddy district, rally to be held later today and will addressed by CM Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao.
The term of TRS government is till May 2019 and elections in Telangana should happen along with 2019 Lok Sabha elections. But if chief minister announces the dissolution of State Assembly, elections in Telangana will be held in December this year, along with four other states - Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh. Telangana got separated from Andhra Pradesh in 2014 and KCR is the first Chief Minister of state. On Saturday, the Chief Minister announced 35% pay hike for the employees of Electricity Department. Over the last few days, he announced sops for various sections of people, and also transferred IAS and IPS officers, an exercise generally done before an election.