On Sunday, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao met DMK Leader M. Karunanidhi and its working President M. K. Stalin in Chennai. KCR described his meeting with Stalin as very delightful. The two party heads discussed various issues including autonomy of states.
KCR and Stalin held a joint press meet after their discussion. The TRS Chief told reporters he aims at a Front for the people of this Country. Reporters questioned KCR if he plans to push West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2019 elections. To this CM KCR explained the Front was for the betterment of the country and not for power.
The son of Karunanidhi, Mr. Stalin organized a lunch at his residence for Mr. Rao where the two had a lengthy discussion. The two leaders discussed the Center and State relations, powers handed to states and devolution of funds. They as said more discussions would be held in the future.
At the joint press meet, KCR said, “Across the nation, there is a debate that there is a need for a qualitative change in governance of India, politics of India. So we have been holding discussions with leaders across the nation. Both of us (KCR and Stalin) had a word on phone with Mamata Banerjee also and we will be talking to many leaders across the country.”
KCR said this would take another three months to achieve a consensus. He further added that he and Stalin shared the view of India’s need to be secular. KCR was quoted saying, “The centralization…dictatorial trends of successive governments seen in the last seven decades should go.”
Reporters made the blunder of asking KCR if the Center ignored the Southern states. To this KCR lashed out said, “Where is the doubt about it?” Adding that he was standing there to ensure justice for all those ignored.
At the meeting, KCR asked Mr. Stalin to be the Chief Guest at the launch of the Telangana Government Scheme next month. Stalin said his discussions with KCR circled around political issues and any announcement of an alliance would be done during elections
