<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/telangana-polls-amit-shah-accuses-congress-of-supporting-urban-naxals-179396">BJP president Amit Shah</a> Sunday alleged that the caretaker Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao, had burdened the state with crores of rupees by opting for early polls.

Speaking at an election rally at Narayanpet in Mahbubnagar district, he also alleged that both the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Congress believed in the "appeasement" of minorities and that AIMIM's Akbaruddin Owaisi had said whoever became the chief minister of the southern state would have to bow before his party.

'Telangana would have saved hundreds of crores of rupees had it opted for the Assembly polls along with the Lok Sabha election in May next year. KCR burdened the state with crores of rupees of election expenditure. Who is responsible for this&nbsp;KCR was doubtful of his victory in May, fearing a (Prime Minister) Modi wave,'&nbsp;Shah said.

He alleged that the Congress, in its manifesto for the December 7 polls, had promised 'free electricity'&nbsp;to mosques and churches but not to temples.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief also alleged that as part of its politics of minority appeasement, the opposition party had promised an educational aid of Rs 20 lakh to the minority students if it came to power in Telangana.

'The Congress also speaks (in its manifesto) about reservations for the minorities in government contracts. It also talks about separate hospitals for the minorities. I want to ask (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi, what would be the fate of the poor people who do not belong to the minority communities,'&nbsp;he said.

Shah reiterated that the saffron party was not in favour of reservations based on religion as it was against the Constitution. 
'The Telangana chief minister has promised a 12-per cent reservation for Muslims. The BJP and its cadre will ensure that a reservation based on religion will not be implemented in Telangana,'&nbsp;he asserted.

Taking a dig at the Asaduddin Owaisi-led<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-trs-aimim-are-one-and-pm-modi-is-their-leader-ghulam-nabi-azad-180341"> All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the TRS</a>, Shah claimed that due to the fear of the Owaisi brothers, the KCR government no longer celebrated the state's Liberation Day on September 17 and vowed that if the BJP came to power in Telangana, the Hyderabad Liberation Day will be celebrated with fanfare.

'Akbaruddin says whoever becomes the chief minister of Telangana should keep his head at the feet of the Majlis (AIMIM)," he said. 
Referring to KCR's promise of giving two-bedroom houses to backward families, Shah said the TRS chief not only failed to implement the scheme but also deprived the people of the state of the benefits of the Prime Minister Awas Yojana.

He urged the voters to vote for the BJP for the overall development of Narayanpet and Telangana.

At another public meeting at Kalwakurthy, Shah alleged that 4,500 farmers had committed suicide in Telangana in the last four-and-half-years of the TRS rule.

KCR, who claimed to be a messiah of farmers, handcuffed them in Khammam when they asked for a support price for their produce, he charged.

The BJP chief also alleged that KCR had forgotten the promise of providing government jobs and compensation to the kin of the 1,200 people who had lost their lives during the separate Telangana movement.

The 119-member<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/trans-woman-contesting-telangana-poll-missing-179936"> Telangana Assembly</a> will go to the polls on December 7 and the results will be announced on December 11.&nbsp;

BJP president Amit Shah Sunday alleged that the caretaker Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao, had burdened the state with crores of rupees by opting for early polls.

BJP president Amit Shah Sunday alleged that the caretaker Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao, had burdened the state with crores of rupees by opting for early polls. Speaking at an election rally at Narayanpet in Mahbubnagar district, he also alleged that both the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Congress believed in the "appeasement" of minorities and that AIMIM's Akbaruddin Owaisi had said whoever became the chief minister of the southern state would have to bow before his party. 'Telangana would have saved hundreds of crores of rupees had it opted for the Assembly polls along with the Lok Sabha election in May next year. KCR burdened the state with crores of rupees of election expenditure. Who is responsible for this KCR was doubtful of his victory in May, fearing a (Prime Minister) Modi wave,' Shah said. He alleged that the Congress, in its manifesto for the December 7 polls, had promised 'free electricity' to mosques and churches but not to temples. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief also alleged that as part of its politics of minority appeasement, the opposition party had promised an educational aid of Rs 20 lakh to the minority students if it came to power in Telangana. 'The Congress also speaks (in its manifesto) about reservations for the minorities in government contracts. It also talks about separate hospitals for the minorities. I want to ask (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi, what would be the fate of the poor people who do not belong to the minority communities,' he said. Shah reiterated that the saffron party was not in favour of reservations based on religion as it was against the Constitution. 'The Telangana chief minister has promised a 12-per cent reservation for Muslims. The BJP and its cadre will ensure that a reservation based on religion will not be implemented in Telangana,' he asserted. Taking a dig at the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the TRS, Shah claimed that due to the fear of the Owaisi brothers, the KCR government no longer celebrated the state's Liberation Day on September 17 and vowed that if the BJP came to power in Telangana, the Hyderabad Liberation Day will be celebrated with fanfare. 'Akbaruddin says whoever becomes the chief minister of Telangana should keep his head at the feet of the Majlis (AIMIM)," he said. Referring to KCR's promise of giving two-bedroom houses to backward families, Shah said the TRS chief not only failed to implement the scheme but also deprived the people of the state of the benefits of the Prime Minister Awas Yojana. He urged the voters to vote for the BJP for the overall development of Narayanpet and Telangana. At another public meeting at Kalwakurthy, Shah alleged that 4,500 farmers had committed suicide in Telangana in the last four-and-half-years of the TRS rule. KCR, who claimed to be a messiah of farmers, handcuffed them in Khammam when they asked for a support price for their produce, he charged. The BJP chief also alleged that KCR had forgotten the promise of providing government jobs and compensation to the kin of the 1,200 people who had lost their lives during the separate Telangana movement. The 119-member Telangana Assembly will go to the polls on December 7 and the results will be announced on December 11.

KCR burdened Telangana with crore of rupees by opting for early polls: Amit Shah

Poll temperature has shot up in Telangana with the ruling TRS, the Congress and the BJP pulling out all stops to woo voters ahead of the December 7 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mohammed-azharuddin-named-telangana-congress-working-president-days-before-assembly-polls-180445">Assembly elections.</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi who have already addressed campaign meetings are returning to the country's youngest state tomorrow to address public rallies in what is seen as a 'final push'.

Caretaker Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/telangana-polls-elections-cannot-be-won-on-false-promises-raman-singh-to-chandrasekhar-rao-180767">K Chandrasekhar Rao</a> has been on a vigorous campaign trail in the past few days seeking a second term for the party and has been unsparing in his attack on Modi, Rahul and TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The TRS is going alone in the poll to the 119-member Assembly, as also is the BJP. Campaigning ends on Wednesday.

The Congress has forged "Prajakutami" (People's Alliance) with the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) headed by professor M Kodandaram, and the CPI.

Both the BJP and the Congress have deployed senior leaders for the 'battle for Telangana'.

BJP president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari were among those who addressed public meetings in different parts of the state on Sunday.

Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh campaigned for party candidates last week.

For the Congress, Sonia Gandhi addressed a public meeting last week. Chandrababu Naidu is also engaged in an intensive campaign for the People's Alliance.

Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Jairam Ramesh and Veerappa Moily were among those who had been drafted to guide the party campaign in Telangana.

The Congress has dubbed the TRS as a "stooge" and a "proxy" of the BJP, while the BJP has attacked the Chandrasekhar Rao-led party for promoting "family rule".

'TRS prospects are extremely bright and in fact, things are improving by the day,'&nbsp;KT Rama Rao, TRS leader and son of the caretaker Chief Minister, told PTI.

He credited his party's bright prospects to the state government's 'good governance and solid combination of welfare and development, fruits of which the people have enjoyed in the last four years'.&nbsp;

Poll temperature has shot up in Telangana with the ruling TRS, the Congress and the BJP pulling out all stops to woo voters ahead of the December 7 Assembly elections.

Poll temperature has shot up in Telangana with the ruling TRS, the Congress and the BJP pulling out all stops to woo voters ahead of the December 7 Assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi who have already addressed campaign meetings are returning to the country's youngest state tomorrow to address public rallies in what is seen as a 'final push'. Caretaker Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has been on a vigorous campaign trail in the past few days seeking a second term for the party and has been unsparing in his attack on Modi, Rahul and TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The TRS is going alone in the poll to the 119-member Assembly, as also is the BJP. Campaigning ends on Wednesday. The Congress has forged "Prajakutami" (People's Alliance) with the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) headed by professor M Kodandaram, and the CPI. Both the BJP and the Congress have deployed senior leaders for the 'battle for Telangana'. BJP president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari were among those who addressed public meetings in different parts of the state on Sunday. Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh campaigned for party candidates last week. For the Congress, Sonia Gandhi addressed a public meeting last week. Chandrababu Naidu is also engaged in an intensive campaign for the People's Alliance. Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Jairam Ramesh and Veerappa Moily were among those who had been drafted to guide the party campaign in Telangana. The Congress has dubbed the TRS as a "stooge" and a "proxy" of the BJP, while the BJP has attacked the Chandrasekhar Rao-led party for promoting "family rule". 'TRS prospects are extremely bright and in fact, things are improving by the day,' KT Rama Rao, TRS leader and son of the caretaker Chief Minister, told PTI. He credited his party's bright prospects to the state government's 'good governance and solid combination of welfare and development, fruits of which the people have enjoyed in the last four years'.

Poll temperature shoots up in poll-bound Telangana

Chandramukhi, a 30-year-old trans-woman activist, contesting the Telangana Assembly election from the Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad on Bahujan Left Front ticket, went missing from her home since Tuesday morning.

Speaking to ANI over the phone, Banjarahills ACP KS Rao said that the transgender community on Tuesday night approached the police complaining of Chandramukhi`s missing since morning.

The police have registered a case and investigations are underway.

"We have formed a special team to search Chandramukhi. We are monitoring the CCTV. There is no suspicion on anyone," the police said.

On November 21, Chandramukhi filed nomination from Goshamahal constituency.

Chandramukhi`s opponent is sitting legislator Raja Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Telangana Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be held on December 7 to elect members from 119 constituencies.

The counting of votes will take place on December 11.

Chandramukhi, a 30-year-old trans-woman activist, contesting the Telangana Assembly election from the Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad on Bahujan Left Front ticket, went missing from her home since Tuesday morning.

Chandramukhi, a 30-year-old trans-woman activist, contesting the Telangana Assembly election from the Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad on Bahujan Left Front ticket, went missing from her home since Tuesday morning. Speaking to ANI over the phone, Banjarahills ACP KS Rao said that the transgender community on Tuesday night approached the police complaining of Chandramukhi`s missing since morning. The police have registered a case and investigations are underway. "We have formed a special team to search Chandramukhi. We are monitoring the CCTV. There is no suspicion on anyone," the police said. On November 21, Chandramukhi filed nomination from Goshamahal constituency. Chandramukhi`s opponent is sitting legislator Raja Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Telangana Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be held on December 7 to elect members from 119 constituencies. The counting of votes will take place on December 11.

India assembly elections 2018: Trans-woman contesting Telangana poll missing

There has never been a single Third Front. There have been many avatars of Third Fronts. The genesis of National Front, United Front or Third Front lies in anti-Congress Grand Alliance which was conceived by Ram Manohar Lohia after Jawaharlal Nehru passed away. In 1967, all non-Congress parties came together, and they were able to form the governments in a number of states for the first time. It is from this success, emanated the confidence of a non-Congress government at the Centre.&nbsp;

Since then, time to time, regional parties came together to make government against Congress. In the 1990s, regional parties got realigned on the basis of ideology and personal relationship. The first born was NDA, it was succeeded by the UPA when the Congress realised that it alone cannot be a match against well aligned NDA.

Off late, many politicians have started to moot the idea of floating a Grand Alliance to contain BJP electorally as it has replaced the Congress from the pole position in the Indian politics.

The strategists are excited about the idea of SP-BSP joining hands for two by-elections in Uttar Pradesh. But the pact, sugar-coated by the ideal of secular politics, cannot undermine the barter which has taken place between two parties. For instance, Mayawati will be able to go to Rajya Sabha on SP&rsquo;s support. Some people are also excited about the fact that Mayawati has taken a leaf out of Kanshiram&rsquo;s playbook, but they should pause and think as to what could have happened to Mayawati when SP goons attacked her in the guest house.

Apart from Mayawati, West Bengal&rsquo;s Chief Minister Mamata Banerji and Telangana&rsquo;s Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao are openly mooting the idea to form a Grand Front. Mamata even blamed Congress for not creating an umbrella alliance for the North East elections. The fact of the matter is that can the Third Front be an alternative. Will it have a different ideology? Will it be supported by the Congress? Who will be the prime ministerial candidate? I suppose these questions are irrelevant.

Today&rsquo;s idea of the Third Front is rooted in the preservation of power and nothing else. Unlike 1967 and 1977, it is not rooted in the idea against total hegemony and emergency. It does not have a noble purpose. It is, for this reason, the experiment of 1996-98 (United Front) was a total failure. It was rooted in the idea of keeping one party out.

Today, Congress is in position to be a pole around which small parties can come together. It is so small both organisationally and electorally that regional parties have started to treat Congress as its equal.

On the other hand, the desire of regional parties for a Front also stems from BJP&rsquo;s expansion in newer areas where they themselves have remained sole challenger to the erstwhile Congress.&nbsp; Over the last four years, Indian politics has become BJP vs rest. Non-Congress front in past has seen six prime ministers. All put together, such Fronts remained in power for more than 6 years but it gave 6 prime ministers. It is an unappetizing scenario. With Modi in the saddle, the Third Front will remain a pot of contradictions.

Will the Left side with the Trinamool Congress in 2019 and will Mayawati continue the arrangement when the nation goes to the polls? The answer is that there are too many ifs and buts about it and none of them will be able to stand as credible alternatives. Last in the question is, Chandrashekhar Rao who wants to emulate NT Rama Rao under whom the National Front came to power, and VP Singh became the Prime Minister. He was supported by both Left and BJP. Similar experiments between 1977-80 and 1996-98 were supported by the Congress. This time both Congress and Left have very small national footprints.

The crass anti-BJP-ism is a recipe for disaster. This will make people vote with greater margin for the BJP. Nitish-Laloo experiment was localised to Bihar and could not be replicated in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Even in the case of UP, one will have to see as to how antagonistic vote banks of SP and BSP will cooperate on ground level. For Congress to lend support to such a venture would be suicidal. It will further cannibalise its own organisation.&nbsp;

BJP&rsquo;s electoral success is also a reflection of nation&rsquo;s changing mood on the relationship between religion and the state and assertion of the majority community in cultural sphere as a political actor uncut by caste. It requires a robust ideological opposition and not knee-jerk ganging up.

Opposition needs to understand the ideological and organisational preparedness of BJP. Its power rests on the theory that organisations stem from the power of an idea and from which party can attain power. Opposition and Congress want to reverse the process by grabbing power first, thinking that organisation will stem from it which will ultimately coalesce into a robust idea. It has never happened past and will not happen in future.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

Fight BJP will need a robust ideological opposition and not knee-jerk ganging up.

There has never been a single Third Front. There have been many avatars of Third Fronts. The genesis of National Front, United Front or Third Front lies in anti-Congress Grand Alliance which was conceived by Ram Manohar Lohia after Jawaharlal Nehru passed away. In 1967, all non-Congress parties came together, and they were able to form the governments in a number of states for the first time. It is from this success, emanated the confidence of a non-Congress government at the Centre. Since then, time to time, regional parties came together to make government against Congress. In the 1990s, regional parties got realigned on the basis of ideology and personal relationship. The first born was NDA, it was succeeded by the UPA when the Congress realised that it alone cannot be a match against well aligned NDA. Off late, many politicians have started to moot the idea of floating a Grand Alliance to contain BJP electorally as it has replaced the Congress from the pole position in the Indian politics. The strategists are excited about the idea of SP-BSP joining hands for two by-elections in Uttar Pradesh. But the pact, sugar-coated by the ideal of secular politics, cannot undermine the barter which has taken place between two parties. For instance, Mayawati will be able to go to Rajya Sabha on SP’s support. Some people are also excited about the fact that Mayawati has taken a leaf out of Kanshiram’s playbook, but they should pause and think as to what could have happened to Mayawati when SP goons attacked her in the guest house. Apart from Mayawati, West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerji and Telangana’s Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao are openly mooting the idea to form a Grand Front. Mamata even blamed Congress for not creating an umbrella alliance for the North East elections. The fact of the matter is that can the Third Front be an alternative. Will it have a different ideology? Will it be supported by the Congress? Who will be the prime ministerial candidate? I suppose these questions are irrelevant. Today’s idea of the Third Front is rooted in the preservation of power and nothing else. Unlike 1967 and 1977, it is not rooted in the idea against total hegemony and emergency. It does not have a noble purpose. It is, for this reason, the experiment of 1996-98 (United Front) was a total failure. It was rooted in the idea of keeping one party out. Today, Congress is in position to be a pole around which small parties can come together. It is so small both organisationally and electorally that regional parties have started to treat Congress as its equal. On the other hand, the desire of regional parties for a Front also stems from BJP’s expansion in newer areas where they themselves have remained sole challenger to the erstwhile Congress. Over the last four years, Indian politics has become BJP vs rest. Non-Congress front in past has seen six prime ministers. All put together, such Fronts remained in power for more than 6 years but it gave 6 prime ministers. It is an unappetizing scenario. With Modi in the saddle, the Third Front will remain a pot of contradictions. Will the Left side with the Trinamool Congress in 2019 and will Mayawati continue the arrangement when the nation goes to the polls? The answer is that there are too many ifs and buts about it and none of them will be able to stand as credible alternatives. Last in the question is, Chandrashekhar Rao who wants to emulate NT Rama Rao under whom the National Front came to power, and VP Singh became the Prime Minister. He was supported by both Left and BJP. Similar experiments between 1977-80 and 1996-98 were supported by the Congress. This time both Congress and Left have very small national footprints. The crass anti-BJP-ism is a recipe for disaster. This will make people vote with greater margin for the BJP. Nitish-Laloo experiment was localised to Bihar and could not be replicated in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Even in the case of UP, one will have to see as to how antagonistic vote banks of SP and BSP will cooperate on ground level. For Congress to lend support to such a venture would be suicidal. It will further cannibalise its own organisation. BJP’s electoral success is also a reflection of nation’s changing mood on the relationship between religion and the state and assertion of the majority community in cultural sphere as a political actor uncut by caste. It requires a robust ideological opposition and not knee-jerk ganging up. Opposition needs to understand the ideological and organisational preparedness of BJP. Its power rests on the theory that organisations stem from the power of an idea and from which party can attain power. Opposition and Congress want to reverse the process by grabbing power first, thinking that organisation will stem from it which will ultimately coalesce into a robust idea. It has never happened past and will not happen in future. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why the Third Front against BJP is doomed to fail