The sudden love displayed by Telangana Rashtra Samithi working president and state industries minister K T Rama Rao towards the ongoing agitation by workers of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has baffled many people.
Addressing a meeting in Hyderabad, KTR suddenly spoke about Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and said it was the right of the people of Andhra.
He extended his solidarity with the striking workers of the steel plant and said if possible, he would personally visit Visakhapatnam and take part in the agitation.
An industrialist from Andhra Pradesh said the reason behind KCR’s sudden love for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant was a strategic one, at a time when the TRS is desperate to win the elections to the legislative council under graduates’ constituency.
“He knows how Andhra people are sentimentally attached to the steel plant, which was formed after a long-drawn struggle. So, he wants to appease the Andhra graduates in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts by supporting the steel plant cause, so as to garner their votes in the council elections,” he said.
Telangana Congress working president A Revanth Reddy also echoed the same view. He said the motive behind KTR’s support to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant agitation was to gain political mileage in the MLC elections.
“Your deceptive politics have crossed the boundaries of the state. When you can’t fight for the rights of Telangana promised under the AP Reorganisation Act, how can you claim you will fight for the Vizag Steel Plant?” he asked.
However, the TRS leaders say KTR expressed his support to the Vizag Steel Plant stir, because he was apprehensive that the Centre might target the Singareni Collieries in the next step.
“His objective is to pre-empt the Centre from going in for privatisation of coal mines,” a TRS leader said.