Date:18/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/18/stories/2006111807880400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Karimnagar

KCR files nomination

Staff Reporter

Kicks off election campaign after offering prayers

SET FOR BATTLE: TRS president K. Chandrashekhar Rao filing his nomination papers for the byelection in Karimnagar on Friday. Photo: R. Raju

KARIMNAGAR: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K. Chandrashekhar Rao filed his nomination papers for byelection to the Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency here on the last day on Friday after taking out a huge rally with party supporters.

He was accompanied by party MP A. Narendra, legislators Etala Rajender, V. Lakshmikantha Rao, K. Eshwar and Padma Devender Reddy. The entire town was awash with pink flags and banners of the TRS.

Confident of winning

Talking to reporters, Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao expressed confidence that he would win the byelection with a thumping majority. "The result will reflect the pride and self-esteem of the 3.5 crore people of Telangana who are in favour of a separate State." He claimed that the people would teach a fitting lesson to the Congress and the TDP in the byelection.

He later visited the relay hunger strike camp being organised by sugarcane growers near the collectorate demanding a minimum support price of Rs.1,500 a tonne for sugarcane.

Extending his party's support to their agitation, he criticised the State Government for neglecting the sugarcane growers. He asked the Government to take back Nizam Sugar Factory from private parties and protect the interests of the farmers of the region. The TRS president later launched his poll campaign by addressing an impressive gathering at the SRR College grounds.

Offers prayers

He travelled atop a van to the venue of the meeting after offering prayers to goddess Durga at a temple. Criticising the Congress and the TDP for neglecting Telangana, he said the latter had no right to ask for votes in the region when it was committed to an integrated State.