Cong MP questions motive behind KCRs federal front

Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service
Hyderabad, December 26

For the first time, the Congress has questioned the motive behind the proposed “Federal Front” by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Telangana chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) terming it as a “conspiracy” hatched to help the BJP.

Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Gowda has alleged that the attempt was clearly to help the BJP return to power. This he said was a “quid pro quo” between the BJP and KCR, who the saffron party supported in coming to power in the state.

Odisha and West Bengal chief ministers have found the idea of “Federal Front” very attractive, but they would not fall for it once it becomes clear that the attempt by KCR was only to help the BJP come back to power in 2019. The Rajya Sabha MP said “it’s obvious that the attempts to rope in regional parties and state Chief Ministers to be part of the 'Federal Front' will only help the BJP".

KCR is currently in New Delhi where he is expected to meet several leaders from Uttar Pradesh, besides a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has announced a month-long travel to sell his idea of a Federal Front that will not have either the Congress or the BJP as its alliance partner. On December 23 he had met his Odisha counterpart and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik inBhubaneswar to promote, while later he met West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee before moving to the national capital.

The Congress was trying to ensure that a “Mahagathbandhan” (grand alliance) with regional, secular and progressive parties became a reality. He disclosed that talks were underway with many regional leaders at various levels. Questioning the motive of KCR, he asked, "If you (Rao) are going around and trying to create a third alternative then you are dividing the opposition vote and paving the way for 'Modi Sarkar'.”

Asked if he saw the possibility of TRS joining the Congress-led “Mahagathbandhan” Gowda said, "The Congress would welcome every united in their mission to defeat the BJP that had destroyed the social fabric of the nation.”