NIRMAL: It’s raining politicians in Telangana. Bahujan Samaj Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday kickstarted her campaign in Nirmal Assembly constituency. The same day, prominent politicians from across the country such as AICC president Rahul Gandhi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu were also in a poll-bound Telangana to campaign for their respective parties.
The fiery BSP chief took no prisoners when it came to criticising her opponents. She began with BJP, who she claimed was frightfully inept at governing the country. “In 2014, BJP claimed it would bring back black money from foreign countries. It’s been four-and-a-half years since then. Where is this money?” she said. She also criticised the Centre’s initiatives such as demonitisation and Goods and Services Act, saying “these two things have caused nothing but trouble for the poor in this country.”
Mayawati then moved on to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. She slammed TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao for not fulfilling his promise of appointing a Dalit as the first Chief Minister of Telangana. She also criticised the TRS government for not constructing double-bedroom houses and ‘dalita bastis’ and for not allotting three acres of land to land-less poor in the State.
Mayawati claimed all three major players in the Telangana - Congress, BJP and TRS - were neglecting the welfare of its people. “Only BSP is committed to good governance. I am sure we will form the government this time,” she said.
Taking a dig at BJP
The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister began with BJP, who she claimed was frightfully inept at governing the country. “In 2014, BJP claimed it would bring back black money from foreign countries. It’s been four-and-a-half years since then. Where is this money?” she asked. Criticising the initiatives, she said “these two things have caused nothing but trouble.”