Etela Rajender, a dyed-in-the wool chief for his followers, has gained Huzurabad for seven consecutive phrases. This time round, he’s straight taking over BRS president and Telangana Chief Minister Ok Chandrasekhar Rao in Gajwel in a perceptible grudge match, owing to their bitter previous from one-time mates to now foes.
Currently designated because the BJP’s marketing campaign committee chairman, Etela can be in all probability the chief ministerial face of the celebration which has promised to nominate a backward class chief for the highest job. In a freewheeling chat with CNN-News18, Etela spills the beans on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s massive promise to him.
Edited excerpts
Am I talking to the long run CM of the state?
(Chuckles) How can I say that? Whatever the celebration’s resolution is, I will abide by that. The individuals of Telangana will resolve first, then the celebration.
Is it true that after the LB stadium assembly, PM Modi spoke to a closed group of Backward Class leaders wherein he promised to make you the chief minister?
Yes, he mentioned so. There have been 36 representatives from all communities. The prime minister instructed them that since Independence, mixed Andhra Pradesh and now Telangana have by no means had an OBC chief because the chief minister so assist us win these elections and I will make Etala-Ji the CM (is baar humein jeetaye, foremost Etala-ji ko CM banaunga).
Would you say that is the most important promise coming from the prime minister? Did you anticipate this?
The prime minister has been deeply concerned in issues associated to Telangana. The pitch to make an OBC the chief minister is the collective resolution of the celebration after thorough evaluation of the bottom scenario. After the LB stadium assembly, the PM, whereas talking to group leaders, pointed in the direction of me and mentioned ‘inko CM banayengay'(we will make him the CM).
If the PM indeed promised so, won’t it additional gasoline inside factions inside the BJP since there are different outstanding OBC leaders like Bandi Sanjay, Arvind Dharmapuri?
Why will there be an inside rift? If voted to energy, the central command will solely choose probably the most deserving chief ministerial candidate. I’m the senior-most chief within the celebration with a file of being a seven-time MLA. I have dealt with portfolios like well being and finance. So if the PM made me a promise, it was solely after seeing my monitor file.
What is the temper on the bottom right here in Huzurabad?
The whole constituency is backing me, they’ve the strongest willpower and dedication. I have been profitable consecutively due to them.
You are straight taking over the chief minister at Gajwel. Besides the political battle, do you nurse a private grudge in opposition to KCR owing to your bitter previous?
KCR has murdered democracy in Telangana. He is deeply entrenched in corruption, distributing ill-gotten cash throughout elections. To save democracy, we should oust them.
Did you not face an ideological battle whereas shifting to BJP from TRS?
In politics, there is just one ideology — if individuals’s blessings are with you and you’re employed for his or her welfare, then there may be nothing larger than that. Seva dharam is the most important dharam. Modi Ji’s slogan ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka vikas, Sabka vishwas’ is the spirit with which all of us work; it’s not colored by any ideology.
How would you fee KCR, because you labored with him for a very long time and managed key portfolios?
People blessed him twice, however he misused that. There is a powerful wave of anti-incumbency in opposition to him. His defeat is imminent.
What is your imaginative and prescient for Telangana?
First is to carry the BJP to energy. The subject of unemployment is a critical one. We need to subject job calendars and remedy that. Then we need to cut back the hole between the wealthy and the poor by ending this corruption-raj. We need to finish this undemocratic perspective.
BRS says those that face ED, IT, CBI run to BJP for cover. BRS says you probably did the identical?
Had that been the case, would these individuals have stood by me in any case these years?
Are you assured of defeating KCR in Gajwel?
I am 100 per cent positive that KCR will be ousted this time.
