TRS to hold victory rally Dec 24

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Sunday decided to hold victory rally in Warangal town Dec 24 to celebrate the central government's announcement to initiate the process for formation of Telangana state.

The TRS plans to mobilise half-a-million people for the rally, which will also thank United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for fulfilling the long cherished dream of people of the region, a TRS leader said.

TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, however, decided to drop his plans for 'bus yatra' in the region at the request of the party politburo.

The highest decision making body of the party met at Telangana Bhavan, the TRS headquarters here, to take stock of the political developments following Dec 9 announcement of the central government.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, chaired the meeting. He was given a rousing welcome as it was his first visit to the party office after 11-day hunger strike seeking statehood to Telangana.

The politburo members congratulated KCR for the 'victory' in his fast-unto-death for the cause of Telangana.

TRS legislature party leader E. Rajender told reporters that KCR agreed to the politburo's request to heed the advise of the doctors and not to undertake 'bus yatra'.

The TRS chief had planned to go on 'bus yatra' to counter the 'united Andhra' campaign in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions and to dispel apprehensions in some sections of people that the central government might backtrack on its commitment.

Last updated on Dec 20^th, 2009 at 20:58 pm IST--IANS