As a triumphant Telangana Rashtra Samiti supremo K Chandrashekar Rao rode “Telangana Ratham” (chariot) and more than 1,00,000 supporters poured in to Hyderabad to celebrate his success in achieving Telangana State, a war of wits was continuing between the TRS and the Congress over the nature of their future relationship.
KCR, who had gone to New Delhi earlier this month with declaration that he will return only to “Telangana State”, kept his promise this time as he returned only after Parliament passed the Bill to divide Andhra Pradesh.
To drive home the political mileage and to leave no rival in doubt on who was the real winner, the TRS painted Hyderabad city pink, the official colour of the party. Every inch of available space on the roads, the traffic islands and the roadside hoardings, building rooftops has been covered with photos and slogans praising KCR as “Tiger of Telangana” and “Architect of Telangana”.
To make the show of strength a grand affair, the party also included 100 horses and camels, plus a group of Royal Enfield bike riders in the procession. Kavita joined the procession in bike rally which accompanied KCR from Begumpet Airport to the Memorial where he offered floral tributes to the people who laid down their lives for the cause of Telangana during 58-year-long struggle for a separate State.
“This victory belongs to the people of Telangana,” declared KCR as his supporters shouted slogans of “Jai Telangana” raising their fists in the air. A helicopter flew over the procession showering it with the pink colour flower petals.
KCR urged the people of Telangana to be ready for the next battle. “We have achieved one dream but we will have to continue our hard work to make Telangana the most developed and prosperous State”.
K Taraka Rama Rao, who also arrived from Delhi on Tuesday said that the party was waiting for the President’s assent to the Bill and announcement of the “Appointed Day”. After that we will organise a public meeting on an unprecedented scale.
The procession, which brought the normal life in Hyderabad to a grinding halt and creating a gridlock of vehicles on the roads, started behind the schedule by two hours due to the late arrival of KCR from New Delhi.