TRS raises pitch on Telangana

Asked whether UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi would not be irked by the TRS joining the new group, Rao said: ‘‘We are not subordinates to Congress; we are independent.’’

He said that his party had waited for conclusion of the Maharashtra elections as requested by the Congress to raise the issue of formation of a Telangana state. Saying he had full faith that the Congress would keep its promise, he pointed out there was no need for a fresh ‘‘consensus’’ on the issue (as mentioned by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and others) since consultations with all the parties concerned had already been completed.

On fighting local body elections in alliance with the Congress, the TRS chief said that a lot would depend on the sincerity that Congress displays in creating a separate state. He also said a Bill for creating a separate Telangana state would be introduced in the winter session of Parliament.

On BJP president L.K. Advani’s remarks on Rao’s continuance in Cabinet without a portfolio, he said that several ministers, including Meira Kumar, Mamata Banerjee and Krishna Menon, had served the nation without portfolios for longer periods than him’’.