Rahul Gandhi rules out alliance with TRS for Telangana polls

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that his party will not enter into an alliance with “any corrupt, anti-people party” in Telangana, and suggested to leaders vying for a tie-up with TRS “to go join them.”

“If any Congress leader raises this matter again, we will expel him from the party,” Rahul said.

The Congress scion also promised to waive off crop loans of up to Rs 2 lakh at one go in Telangana, if his party is voted to power in the state. He addressed a massive public meeting “Rythu Sangarshana Sabha” organised by the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee in Warangal on Friday.

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He unveiled the “Warangal Declaration”, listing the measures, and schemes the party intends to initiate for farmers’ welfare like the introduction of “Indiramma Rythu Bharosa,” providing investment support of Rs 15,000 per acre per annum to both landowners as well as tenant farmers.

Rahul is on a two-day tour in Telangana. In a state where the BJP is improving its presence with electoral victories and padayatras, state Congress leaders believe Rahul’s tour would help infuse some vigour into the party cadre.

The state Assembly elections are due in December next year. Despite the Congress-led UPA-2 creating the Telangana state in 2014, the voters here chose the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS for two consecutive terms.

“The BJP knows it cannot win in Telangana. It needs a remote-controlled government, so it wants TRS here. The proof of the deal is that despite his huge corruption, the Centre is not initiating any ED or CBI probe against the CM” Rahul said.

The Congress leader said that tickets would be allocated purely on a merit basis, to leaders maintaining a constant connection with the farmers, poor sections etc.

Rahul said that his next Telangana rally will be for the tribals with the demand for 10 percent reservation in education and jobs.

“Whenever, wherever I am required, I'll come to help the Telangana state, people. This is not just the fight of the youth, farmers, and other sections. This is the Congress fight, my fight for you.”

Rahul met the widows of some farmers who had committed suicide in the state, at the Warangal venue.