As the Congress failed to prove as national alternative politically yet again with its disappointing performance in Nagaland and Tripura and its citadel Meghalaya too slipping out of its grip, a clutch of regional satraps, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Sunday espoused Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s call for third political alternative to fill the void of viable Opposition to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
In telephonic conversation, TMC supremo Mamata conveyed her complete support to KCR’s resolve to participate in national politics to bring about a “qualitative change”. She said she agreed with the TRS chief’s opinion that there is a necessity to bring a qualitative change in the country’s politics, an official release said.
“Ham aap se ekmat hain. Aap ke saath rahange (I am in agreement with you. I will work with you),” she told KCR, as Rao is popularly known, the release said.
Sources said KCR is also in talks with Samajwadi Party, DMK and even miffed BJP allies — Shiv Sena and TDP — about a possible ‘non-BJP non-Congress’ front.
At a Press conference on Saturday after the BJP decimated the left and the Congress in three North-Eastern States, Rao hinted at forming a third front-like platform. The TRS chief said he was keen to participate in the national politics to bring about a “change” and was in talks with others to form a platform of like-minded parties.
“There is need for qualitative change in the national politics....There is a serious need. People are vexed now. No qualitative change is seen by people even after 70 years of democracy... China developed in less than three decades. What both the Congress and the BJP did all these yearsIJ
“People are looking for change. Can we expect something new to happen if the Congress comes to power after the BJPIJ It can be a third front or any front...Are we not part of the countryIJ Discussions are going on. There is no secret about it,” he had said when asked if he was in talks with other non-Congress, non-BJP leaders.
At a Press meet on Sunday, actor-turned-politician and Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan welcomed Rao’s statement and said he was extending his support.
Earlier in the day, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also welcomed Rao’s comments and said regional parties will be the key to Government formation after the next parliamentary polls and that the Telangana chief minister will play an important role in the process.
According to the release, at least two MPs from Maharashtra as well as several prominent persons from different walks of life expressed their support to KCR over phone.
However, it did not name either the MPs or their parties.
Meanwhile, a large number of people, besides prominent leaders of the ruling TRS, today reached Pragathi Bhavan, the official residence of the Chief Minister, apparently to express solidarity with Rao.