HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a trenchant attack on Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for the first time, saying that if people of the state want to bail out his daughter, they should elect the BRS.
While the PM avoided taking KCR daughter's name, this is the first time Modi had directly named KCR in his speech.
Addressing a meeting with select party workers from poll-bound states of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram in Bhopal, Modi targeted the opposition parties accusing them of pursuing 'family rule' politics. "If you want to help KCR's daughter, vote for BRS. My countrymen, please listen carefully to what I say; if you want your daughter, son, granddaughter, grandson or children to prosper, then vote for BJP."
During his public rally speeches in Telangana previously, the PM had never mentioned BRS or KCR's name directly. He had always referred to BRS as a 'family rule party' or 'yahan ki sarkar' (local government) or 'corrupt' government. In his public meetings, Modi used to take pot-shots at the CM saying that he doesn't attend the secretariat due to his superstitions and beliefs.
The only time when the PM went all-out against the BRS government was when he addressed a public rally in Hyderabad last year, asserting that corruption by any state government will not be spared by his government.
In his recent meeting at Parade Ground in April, Modi had alleged that the state government was not cooperating with the central government in implementing development works and welfare measures.
Meanwhile, many Telangana BJP leaders, who watched the Prime Minister's Bhopal speech on Tuesday, said the PM's remarks further confirms that there was no truth in theories that BJP was going 'soft' on BRS and that both parties have a secret deal. "It is evident from the statements of the PM and Nadda that BJP has got nothing to do with BRS. Our aim is to win the elections and form the next government in Telangana," a senior leader said.