In massive show of strength, Amit Shah to address BJP public meeting in Telangana today

National executive member N Ramachander Rao said Union minister Amit Shah is expected to “give a fitting reply” to all TRS leaders at the public meeting to be held on the last day of the padayatra by BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

Amit Shah is visiting Telangana amid a bitter war of words between leaders of the TRS and BJP over the alleged discrimination against the state which started last year over paddy procurement. (File)

The Telangana unit of the BJP is all geared up for a massive show of strength in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday evening at Tukkuguda on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The public meeting is being held on the last day of the padayatra by party state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

The second phase of Kumar’s Praja Sangram Yatra, which started on April 14, will end on Saturday evening at Tukkuguda near Maheshwaram. National executive member N Ramachander Rao said the turnout at the public meeting is expected to be much bigger than any held by the BJP in Telangana recently.

“This display of strength will show that the BJP is ready for the elections in the state. BJP leaders and cadres are excited and eager for Shah’s visit. I think Amit Shah will give a fitting reply to all ministers and leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) who have been accusing the Centre of discrimination against the state. TRS is not talking about what the Centre has sanctioned for the state so far, but only pointing out what it has not got,” Rao said.

Shah is visiting Telangana amid a bitter war of words between leaders of the TRS and BJP over the alleged discrimination against the state which started last year over paddy procurement. Rao said that the BJP feels that although there is hectic activity in the TRS, the ruling party may not hold the polls scheduled next year at an earlier date.

The Union Minister for Home will visit the Central Forensic Science Laboratory at Ramanthapur in Hyderabad and inaugurate the National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (NCFL) in the afternoon. Shah will also meet BJP leaders before proceeding to Tukkuguda and address the public meeting around 6 pm.

The BJP unit in the state is all fired up after its win in the bypolls for the Huzurabad and Dubbaka Assembly seats as well as its good performance in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls. Party leaders said the BJP is targeting at least 70 of the 119 Assembly seats, particularly the 31 reserved seats (19 SC and 12 ST) and 24 urban constituencies, a strategy that has paid off in other states.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More