Akhilesh Backs KCR In Taking On BJP

Hyderabad: Former UP Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the country was looking for a qualitative change in national politics and that their party would extend full support to Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS) Chief K Chandrashekar Rao in making this possible. Speaking at a joint press conference held by Akhilesh and KCR, after their meeting here today, the SP President said that only the regional parties would be able to take on BJP.

For over a month now, KCR has been trying to knit together a front comprising regional parties from across the country to form a non-Congress and non-BJP front as an alternative in national politics. In recent days, he has toned down his anti-Congress stand to suggest that he is open to the inclusion of Congress.

As part of this exercise he had earlier met West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Janata Dal-S President and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Hemant Soren, and also veteran Tamil Nadu leader and DMK President Karunanidhi and his son DMK Working President MK Stalin.

Earlier in the day Akhilesh Yadav met KCR here and discussed the latter's proposal for formation of a Federal Front for over 40 minutes. After the meeting, they participated in a joint press conference in which they clearly said that the formation of the new front was not aimed at 2019 elections. KCR said that he would like a play an important role in national politics. He said that he had spoken to Akhilesh Yadav several times over the phone and as part of the discussions, the SP Chief had come to Hyderabad.

Later, the SP President also confirmed that he spoke to KCR several times over the phone. He said that they discussed several issues and praised the efforts of the TRS government in Telangana. Irrigation water is the key and KCR had understood it, he said and added that with his understanding he was helping the farmers in the state. He went on to say that Central governments have disappointed the people and the public was looking for a change in our political system.

He crticised the BJP-led NDA government in the Centre and said they had not fulfilled any promise till date.