Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and caretaker K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday hit back at PM Modi and said there was no power problem in the state, adding that the prime minister cannot level "false allegations for the sake of votes."
Modi, while addressing his first election rally ahead of the December 7 polls in Telangana, said the chief minister had once asserted that he would transform Nizamabad into a smart city like London but the city was still grappling with shortage of water, electricity and proper roads. Nizamabad is represented by Rao's daughter K Kavitha in the Lok Sabha.
"How can you say such a lie... You should not lie, being at the responsible post of Prime Minister, for the sake of votes," Rao said addressing an election rally in Mahabubnagar district.
"Mr Narendra Modi, there is no power problem in Telangana... don't lie. I am very sorry to say this. You cannot level false allegations against a chief minister. I am not afraid of anyone. I am not (Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N) Chandrababu Naidu," Rao said, reiterating that there was a need for a "federal front government" at the Centre.
Claiming that Telangana was the only state in the country where farmers were supplied power 24x7, Rao asked Modi if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled states were providing 24-hour electricity to the farm sector.
The chief minister further said Telangana was at the top spot in implementing welfare schemes, among which were those for women, children and the elderly.
"No one can stop TRS from winning and we will again form the government (in Telangana)," Rao said.
Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana will be held between November 12 and December 7 in what may be a virtual semi-final to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Counting of votes will be taken up together in all the five states on December 11, the Election Commission announced Saturday.
(With PTI inputs)
