Claiming that formation of separate Telangana state was not possible without the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi Wednesday appealed to the people to vote for the party for a bright future and for development with peace and social justice.Kickstarting party's election campaign in Telangana, the Congress president said the party kept its word its promise to deliver Telangana state and fulfilled 60-year-old dream of the people.Addressing a public meeting in this north Telangana town, she said since the time has come for running Telangana state with responsibility, people should vote for the Congress to ensure peace and development.
Sonia Gandhi targeted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress for opposing Telangana bill in the parliament. She did not spare the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which has refused to merge with the Congress or even to have an electoral alliance with it.
"The TRS had no role in drafting and passing the Telangana bill," she said and pointed out that seven months before TRS was formed in 2001, Congress legislators from Telangana had met and passed a resolution, demanding the party leadership to back separate Telangana state."The TRS talks only the language of and intimidation," she said while claiming that Congress alone can take along all sections of people. She also made it clear that people of both Telangana and Seemandhra are close to her heart.It was the Sonia Gandhi's first public address in Telangana after the parliament passed Telangana bill in February."The Congress has turned your dream in reality. On June 2 Telangana will become 29th state. I am happy to participate in your celebrations," said the Congress president, who had promised a separate state at the same venue during election campaign in 2009.Simultaneous elections to 119 assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana are scheduled April 30.