Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's efforts to create a "third federal front," of political outfits other than the BJP and Congress received a boost as TRS chief KT Rama Rao met YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy in Hyderabad Wednesday.
Accompanying TRS president KT Rama Rao were MP Vinod Kumar —a senior party leader — and general secretary Palla Rajeshwar Reddy. The meeting, a significant step towards the federal front, occurred at Reddy's Lotus Pond residence in Hyderabad’s upscale Banjara Hills neighbourhood, reported India Today.
After the meeting, Rao spoke in praise of his father's efforts to build a third front and Reddy's readiness to be a part of it. "I called up Jagan (Jaganmohan Reddy) on Tuesday and asked for a meeting to discuss the federal front. He immediately agreed. So here we are," Rao, also known as KTR, said in a press conference after the meeting.
Jaganmohan Reddy too spoke in praise of "any front that asks for special category status for the two states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh." "The number of MPs representing these states needs to rise if the voices of these states are going to be heard. The attempt by KCR to create a situation that will go on to form a third front is laudable," Reddy said.
The move on TRS's part to reach out to YSR Congress is not a surprise as both parties have hinted on their willingness to work with each other to defeat the government of Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh, reported News18. "We want to join hands with anyone who believes that there needs to be change in national politics. KCR himself has met many leaders across the country," said Rao.
K Chandrasekhar Rao is often called 'KCR' by followers. He met Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and also Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik, seeking to drum up support for the federal front.