Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sounded the poll bugle in Telangana as he prepares to address a mammoth rally in Mahabubnagar on Sunday afternoon.
Though the Prime Minister has a tight schedule lined up, with the laying of foundation stone for development projects worth Rs 13,500 crore, it is expected that the Prime Minister will use the opportunity to lash out at the BRS government.
In a message posted on his social media platform X on Saturday night, Modi hit out at the state administration, stating that "the people of Telangana were tired of lacklustre governance and equally distrustful of Congress." "Both BRS and Congress are dynastic parties who have no aim of serving people," Modi said in the message.
The ruling BRS has also made their disagreement evident with Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao skipping the Prime Minister's programmes, for the sixth time in a row. Instead of the chief minister, BRS minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav will receive Modi and participate in the event.
In April too, KCR opted out of the Prime Minister's programme despite being invited. Modi had then said he was "pained by the non-cooperation" of the KCR government.
KCR skipping the events had triggered a war of words between BRS and BJP, with state BJP state president Kishan Reddy slamming the chief minister, asking whether "Telangana needs a Chief Minister like K Chandrashekar Rao who has no time to take part when the Prime Minister of the country coming to the state to kickstart development works beneficial to the State".
Modi's schedule includes development projects worth Rs 13,545 crore, in important sectors such as road, rail, petroleum and natural gas and higher education. He will also virtually flag off a train service and lay the foundation stone for road projects that are part of the Nagpur – Vijayawada Economic Corridor.
"The projects include - 108 km long ‘four-lane access controlled Greenfield highway from Warangal to Khammam section of NH-163G’ and 90 km long ‘four-lane access controlled greenfield highway from Khammam to Vijayawada section of NH-163G," a statement from the PMO read.
Clearly unimpressed, the BRS took to Twitter to hit out at the Prime Minister, questioning what he did for Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation project. "What did Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji do for Palamur in these ten years? Why is Telangana's share of Krishna waters not settled? What is the national status of Palamuru-Ranga Reddy project? What are you bringing now? What are you doing to Telangana? The society of Telangana is asking you, Prime Minister Modi ji!. read a tweet put up by BRS on Sunday ahead of the Prime Minister's visit.
However, the Prime Minister is unlikely to meet state BJP leaders. A senior leader of Telangana BJP told PTI there was no scheduled meeting of the state leaders with Modi, though the PM may briefly interact with them during the reception at the airport. "The meeting will mark the launch of the party's poll campaign in Telangana. He (PM) would deliver a sound and clear message to the people," the BJP leader said, adding that the PM is also likely to dwell on development that took place in the country during the past nine years under the NDA government.
Modi will return to Telangana on Tuesday to address a public meeting and launch projects in Nizamabad. Tuesday will also have a team from the Election Commission of India visiting Telangana to assess the poll preparedness and engage with various stakeholders.