Stayed in politics to thwart designs of Andhra forces: KCR

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday said he wanted to retire from the active politics after the state came into existence, but decided to stay on to "thwart the attempts of Andhra forces" and save the newborn state.

A press release from the Chief Minister's Office tonight said Rao "spoke emotionally" at a review meeting on Hyderabad Metro Rail, where he also said Telangana state would have been a reality ten years ago had he accepted it without Hyderabad.

"I know the conspiracy of the Andhra forces. They wanted to see we didn't get Hyderabad. The Government of India was ready to concede our demand for Telangana long ago, but without Hyderabad. We pressed for a Telangana including Hyderabad...," the release quoted KCR as saying.

"I wanted to retire from active politics as soon as Telangana state was created. But I realised the need to thwart the conspiracies and gameplans of Andhra forces and hence resolved to continue. That's also the reason I assumed responsibilities as Chief Minister," KCR added, in what is seen as a bid to ward off criticism from various quarters that he went back on his word by not making a Dalit the first CM of the new state.

"I am continuing in politics to transform Hyderabad as well as Telangana into number one in the country," the Chief Minister added.