KCR Campaigns For Nagarjuna Sagar Bypoll, Slams Congress

Seeking votes for TRS in the soon to be held Nagarjuna Sagar bypoll, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Wednesday slammed the Congress, saying that the party had ignored development during its tenure in the state.

Speaking in a public meeting at Haliya, Mr Rao said he would not seek votes in the next Assembly elections (in 2023) if the promised irrigation projects were not completed in the next one and half years.

Nagarjuna Sagar will be going for the bypoll as sitting TRS legislator Nomula Narsimhaiah died in December last.

"Rs 2500 crore worth lift irrigation schemes will be taken up in the district. If we don't complete these projects, we will not seek votes in the next elections. We will work hard to complete all the projects in one and half years," Mr Rao said.

Blaming Congress for the backwardness of Nalgonda district, Mr Rao said if his government takes up projects, the opposition party levels allegations that there are kickbacks.

Mr Rao sought to know whether the Nagarjuna Sagar Project, which was constructed during the Congress regime, was taken up for kickbacks.

He said Rs 1,000 crore would be allotted in the coming Budget for the welfare of Dalits under the "CM Dalit Empowerment Fund" and he would personally monitor it.

Mr Rao lost his cool when some people at the meeting allegedly tried to distract him by showing some papers and ordered the police to take them out.

"There are several dogs like you. Police... take them out. Take papers…whatever they want to give...They are just a handful (in the meeting). If we are determined, there will not be any trace of you. You will become dust," an annoyed KCR said.

KCR said if any party has an opinion, they also could convene meetings and convey what they wanted to the people. But it was not good to disturb meetings of other parties

"So don't resort to senseless activities. If you have anything to say you also hold a public meeting. People will decide. Coming to meetings of other parties and disturbing them is not good culture. None will appreciate it and in the coming days people will teach you a lesson. I am warning their leader to be careful. There is a limit to our patience. If you cross the limits, we know what to do," he said.