HYDERABAD: The TRS, which is all set to form the first government in the newly-carved out Telangana state, on Monday sought and received support from the MIM. A delegation of the TRS leaders, comprising party chief K Chandrasekhar Rao’s son K T Rama Rao, Etela Rajender and Nayani Narasimha Rao, called on MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi at the latter’s residence.
The TRS is apparently cosying up to the MIM, keeping in mind the civic polls in Hyderabad, which are due later this year.
According to sources, the TRS wants to have a pre-poll alliance with the MIM in order to increase its footprint in Hyderabad where it is on a weak wicket.
After the meeting, leaders of both the parties said they were keen to fast-track development of Hyderabad.
Though the TRS has a majority to form the State government on its own, the party leaders said they had sought MIM’s cooperation to implement development programmes without any hitch. “We met MIM leaders with only one intention – development of Telangana as well as Hyderabad,” KTR told reporters.
“Asaduddin Owaisi will soon meet KCR,” he added. To pointed queries, he replied, “MIM will remain our political ally.
It has agreed to extend full support to us. Both of us will work together to rise up to the expectations of the people of Hyderabad and Telangana.”
Asked If there is a possibility of inducting MIM members into the State cabinet, KTR shot back, “This meeting is intended to seek MIM’s support. We want to journey together in the next five years to develop Hyderabad. Anyway, Owaisi will meet KCR soon and then, everything will be known.”
Asaduddin Owaisi, on his part, termed the TRS a secular party and said he would meet KCR to draw up a comprehensive programme for Hyderabad’s development.
‘Will Befriend Modi’
The TRS would seek to befriend PM-elect Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA to forge a good and healthy relationship, and would not be confrontationist with the successor state of AP but would fight tooth and nail for the rights of Telangana, a party leader said.