Chandrababu extends olive branch to KCR

HYDERABAD: Announcing that he would be taking oath as chief minister of residuary Andhra Pradesh state on June 8, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has held out an olive branch to his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao, asking him to join hands with him to exert pressure on the Centre together to get more funds for the two successor States to keep them on the track of development.

'Let bygones be bygones. Though Andhra Pradesh has been divided geographically, Telugu-speaking people should continue to live as one. I call upon CM-designate of Telangana, KCR, to stop igniting regional passions even after division. We, Telugus, should continue to live as one race and compete with each other in terms of development,' Naidu said.

While winding up the the party's two-day annual conclave, Mahanadu, Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday evening, announced that his swearing-in would be held at 11.45 am on June 8, near Nagarjuna University at Mangalagiri on Vijayawada-Guntur stretch.

In an indirect reference to his Telangana counterpart and TRS chief Rao's opposition to the Centre's proposal of transfer of some mandals in Bhadrachalam revenue division to Seemandhra so as to clear the way for the construction of Polavaram project, Naidu said it was not proper for Rao to create hurdles for Polavaram project.

Stating that he was ready to discuss the vexatious issues on the same with Rao, Naidu asked the TRS chief not to oppose inclusion of the mandals in Seemandhra.

'I am holding out an olive branch to the soon-to-be formed new government in Telangana, asking it to join hands with us to exert pressure on the Centre so as to get more funds for both the States.

Though Seemandhra and Telangana have been divided, people of both the States speak only one language. Hence, they are brothers. Hence, they should cooperate with each other in developing their respective States and live as one race,' said Naidu.

Expressing thanks to the party cadre who unanimously passed a resolution during the conference vowing to transform the TDP from a regional party to a national party, the yellow party chief said, 'I am confident that the TDP would get the national party status by 2019 polls.

For any political party to become a national party, it will have to get 6 percent votes in four states and also it should win some MLAs. Our party would contest the ensuing polls in as many as six states where Telugu-speaking people live in large numbers. After that, it would get the national party status'.

Earlier, party politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu introduced a resolution vowing to transform the TDP into a national party by getting required number of votes and seats in other states to fulfil the EC's preconditions. The motion was passed unanimously by the party workers.