'India Needs Change', Says Telangana CM After 'Fruitful' Meeting With Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai

After meeting his Maharashtra counterpart Uddhav Thackeray, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday said the two had agreed on the fact that the country needed change, and the youth needed to be considered. Rao also issued a warning for the BJP-led Centre, saying, “Central agencies are being misused in a bad manner, we condemn it. The central government should change its policy, or it will suffer.”

Thackeray, meanwhile, said politics of defaming other states and leaders was not good, and that India could not have a future if this continued. Rao met Thackeray in Mumbai as part of efforts to bring together different “like-minded” parties against the BJP at the national level.

Following an invitation from Thackeray, Rao arrived at ‘Varsha’, the official residence of the Maharashtra CM. Rao said, “I’ve come to discuss politics in this country. We’ve agreed on several things for the betterment of the country, to propel progress in this country and structural changes that are required.”

The Telangana CM said all like-minded leaders will meet in Hyderabad to chalk out a path to move forward and fight the BJP together. “We have a 1000-km border, both Telangana and Maharashtra. We have to work closely. We have agreed upon the fact that the country needs change and the youth need to be considered.”

Praising Maharashtra’s activism, Rao invited Thackeray to Hyderabad “on behalf of the people of Telangana” and said, “Whenever there is a revolt in Maharashtra, it’s successful. Our talks have been fruitful. I invite CM Thackeray on behalf of people of Telangana to Hyderabad. They have been a great host.”

Thackeray, meanwhile, said the meeting of like-minded opposition parties had been in the works for a long time but had only materialised now. “There have been talks of us meeting, it has materialised today. Our meeting is because of the current political environment in the country. If this kind of politics continue, what’s the future of the country?” he asked.

The Maharashtra CM also said the meeting was a start and that he was hopeful of a good relationship with states like Telangana. “Politics of defaming other states and leaders is not good,” he added.

Addressing the media, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut, who was also present for the meeting, said both the CMs had discussed several issues like development, politics in the country, and that they had agreed on a number of things.

Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said the meeting will expedite the process of political unity at the national level against the BJP.

Rao is also scheduled to meet NCP president Sharad Pawar, whose party shares power with the Sena and Congress in Maharashtra. Thackeray had earlier announced “complete support” to Rao’s fight against the BJP’s “anti-people policies” and to uphold the federal spirit.

The Telangana CM, who has been critical of the BJP and the Centre on a number of issues, had said he will hold meetings with his Maharashtra and West Bengal counterparts as an effort to unite different political parties against the BJP and the NDA government.

Read all the Latest Politics News and Breaking News here