BRS to abstain from vice presidential election over Telangana urea shortage

NDA Vice President candidate with PM Modi. Image/File pic

BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao on Monday said that his party would restrain themselves from the Vice Presidential election on 9 September as an expression of the "anguish" felt by Telangana's farmers due to the shortage of urea in the state.

As reported by news agency PTI, he alleged that both the Congress and BJP have "failed" to address the issue, which has led to scuffles among farmers waiting in queues.

In view of the matter, senior leader Rama Rao told the media, "We are abstaining. We are not going to participate," as cited by news agency PTI.

The former minister further said that, "The BRS could have exercised the option of NOTA had it been available in the Vice Presidential election," as cited by news agency PTI.

According to Rama Rao, his party has nothing against the two candidates in the Vice Presidential election - NDA's C. P. Radhakrishnan and the Opposition's B. Sudershan Reddy.

Acknowledging that both may be good candidates, he, however, said they represent the BJP and the INDIA bloc, respectively.

He alleged that neither the Congress government in the state nor the NDA government at the Centre has responded to the urea shortage, despite the crisis.

He further said that "BRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to abstain from the VP election after consultations with the party's Rajya Sabha members and other party leaders," as cited by news agency PTI. The BRS has no representation in the Lok Sabha but has four members in the Rajya Sabha.

When asked about his sister K. Kavitha's recent suspension from BRS for alleged anti-party activities, Rama Rao stated he had nothing to comment after the party made its decision.

"Whatever had to be discussed has been discussed in the party. Action has been taken. Once action has been taken, there is nothing further that I can add or comment," he added, reported PTI.

Rama Rao stated that Mallanna Sagar is a part of the Kaleshwaram project, referring to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy laying the foundation stone for the Godavari drinking water supply to Hyderabad - Phases II and III - as well as the Musi River rejuvenation programme in Hyderabad, by transferring Godavari water from the Mallanna Sagar reservoir.

(With inputs from PTI)