Vijay Kosna
Editor’s Standfirst: On Sunday, February 17, 2019, millions of Telanganites celebrated the 65th Birthday of their Leader and Telangana Chief Minister, Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao better known and abbreviated as KCR, all over the world. He is one of the most popular leaders of South India and is fast emerging as a powerful influence in national politics. The following is a tribute to him by his admirers and officials and Members of the Telangana Rashtriya Samithi (TRS).
Landslide Victory
The TRS led by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao steamrolled the opposition to capture the Telangana State Legislative Assembly for a second consecutive term (on December 13, 2018), with close to three-fourth majority.
Proving all exit polls wrong, barring the India Today Survey, Chandrashekar Rao led the Ruling Party’s demolition squad single-handedly, winning 88 out of the 119 seats contested, to decimate the Congress-led four-Party Prajakutami (People’s Alliance) winning just 21 seats. The Telugu Desam Party won only one seat.
TRS New Zealand Branch President Vijayabhaskar Reddy Kosna and their team campaigned over Telephone and Social Media.
Focus on Agriculture
KCR’s focus on agriculture, rolling out the ‘Rythu Bandhu Investment Support Scheme’ for farmers that gave tillers Rs 8000 per annum per acre and a Rs 500,000 insurance cover for farmers, consolidated his support-base all over the State, especially in rural areas.
Ensuring 24-hour power supply for farmers and construction of double bedroom houses for the poor was also popular.
“This was expected because the people have accepted the (welfare) schemes (initiated by the government)…the infrastructure that has been built….24-hour power supply and timely pensions…,” Mr Kosna said.
New Zealanders in Direct Campaign
TRS New Zealand Honorary Chairperson Kalyan Rao Kasuganti, Arun Prakash Reddy and Sushanthi Angampally were in Telangana during November and December 2018 to participate in the election campaign.
They toured many constituencies along with TRS MLA candidates.
Mr Kasuganti described the ‘direct campaign’ as a ‘great experience.’
He thanked TRS MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha and TRS NRI Coordinator Mahesh Bigala “for the opportunity that they accorded to him to serve the Party.”
“The unprecedented mandate is a reflection of the people’s overwhelming support for development and welfare-oriented government as opposed to the destructive politics of the opposition,” he said.
Victory Celebrations in Auckland
Mr Kosna and his team celebrated the victory of TRS and its Leader KCR and thanked the people of Telangana for entrusting him with the State for further progress and development.
He said that the Branch welcomed the appointment of Kalvakuntla Taraka Ramarao (Son of KCR) as the Working President of TRS.
As a part of the 65th Birthday celebrations of KCR, the New Zealand Branch of TRS conducted a Blood Donation Camp on February 14, 2019 at the Epsom Blood Donation Centre and the Manukau Blood Center.
-From a Report by Vijayabhaskar Reddy Kosna
