Telangana CM skips meeting PM Modi, discusses politics with HD Deve Gowda in Bengaluru

Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekara Rao and JD(S) veteran HD Deve Gowda on Thursday discussed sewing up a formidable political front as an alternative to the BJP before the Dasara (Dussehra). “There is going to be a change at the national level, and none can stop it,” Rao told the media after the meeting.

He also said they will announce details of their next step in two-three months. Rao, who is also the founder of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) spent over three hours with Gowda, his son HD Kumaraswamy and party’s Karnataka youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy at their South Bengaluru residence. “We discussed everything from national politics to Karnataka politics,” Rao said, expressing confidence in Kumaraswamy returning to power.

Around the time Rao spent his time in political meetings in Bengaluru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed in Hyderabad for a few hours. This was the second time Rao skirted a meeting with Modi, who last visited Hyderabad in February.


The PM flew down to Hyderabad to participate in the 20th year celebrations of the Indian School of Business (ISB) as well as the convocation at the b-school. Rao and JD(S) leaders discussed strategies to stitch together a non-BJP political front and take on the BJP on communal polarisation and other burning issues including fuel prices, inflation, and rising unemployment.

The leaders also decided to work on an alternative development agenda for the nation. Gowda, also a former PM, in a tweet said that Rao and himself “exchanged views on various topics of national importance. It was a candid and cordial meeting.” Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President DK Shivakumar, however, declined to comment on Rao-Gowda meeting.

The Telangana CM is also said to have discussed the strategy to be adopted in the upcoming presidential elections as incumbent Ram Nath Kovind’s five-year term will end in July. The third front is likely to field a candidate though of the numbers being in the BJP’s favour. Rao met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, last week. He has been active touring states and meeting political leaders, economists, and other prominent public figures in his bid to script a national role for his regional party.

In Hyderabad, the BJP attacked Rao for “running away” from Hyderabad just to avoid meeting the prime minister who was on an official visit, and not taking part in any political meetings. Modi took part in the convocation at the Indian School of Business (ISB).

The JD(S), which has 32 members in the assembly, and had ruled Karnataka in partnership with the Congress for about a year in 2018-19, is pulling out all stops to retain its vote bank and emerge stronger in the next year’s assembly polls as it is locked in fight with both the ruling BJP and Congress.