Third Front taking shape? KCR meets Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai

Mumbai, Feb 20: Ruling TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday met Maharashtra counterpart Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar as part of his campaign against the BJP's alleged "anti-people" policies.

After a two-hour meeting at 'Varsha', the official residence of Maharashtra CM, the two leaders addressed a press conference where Rao said this is a "good beginning" and that they will meet again after speaking to leaders of other regional and national parties.

Thackeray announced "complete support" to Rao's "fight" against the BJP's alleged anti-people policies and to uphold federal spirit.

The Maharashtra CM proposed that the future course of action on the issue be discussed when Rao meets him.

Appreciating Rao's efforts, Thackeray pointed out that the former has "raised his voice at the right time to protect the nation from divisive forces", the release said.

"We discussed the political situation, development issues being faced by the country after 75 years of independence, " he said.

Thackeray, in a veiled attack on the BJP, said the present day "politics of revenge" was neither Hindutva nor Indian culture, and that the situation needed to change.

What is the country's future if such an atmosphere continues, he said, adding that his discussion with Rao revolved around these issues.

The country's development is a priority and even states need to have friendly relations with each other, he said.

"The politics of revenge is not good. Instead of speaking on development issues during their tenure, lies and misinformation are spread about the political opponents," he said, without taking any name.

Rao said Thackeray and he agreed that a change was needed in the country.

"All should co-exist in harmony," he said.

"We will meet again after speaking to other regional and national parties on the road ahead. The path taken from Maharashtra always leads to success. This is a a good beginning and it is a fight for preserving the democracy," he said.

Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president H D Deve Gowda had recently called up Rao and extended support to the latter's "fight".

Rao had told Gowda he would visit Bengaluru and meet him on the issue.

The Telangana Chief Minister, who has been critical of the BJP and the central government on a number of issues, had said he will soon have meetings with his Maharashtra and West Bengal counterparts, Thackeray and Mamata Banerjee, respectively, as part of efforts to unite various political parties against the saffron party and the NDA government.

Holding that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government should be dumped for its alleged "anti-people" policies, Rao had said he would play a major role in uniting anti-BJP political parties.

TRS and BJP in Telangana have been engaged in a bitter of war of words over different issues for several months now.

Rao would return to Hyderabad in the evening.