The Telangana Cabinet Thursday recommended dissolution of the State Assembly months before the end of its term, a move driven by the TRS’s hope that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s charisma and a fragmented opposition will help the party retain power.

Shortly after his big political gambit which was seen as a bid to avoid a “KCR vs Modi” campaign in any simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, Mr. Rao announced candidates of the ruling TRS for 105 of the 119 assembly seats and launched a blistering attack on the Congress, calling the party Telangana’s “enemy number 1” and its president Rahul Gandhi the “biggest buffoon” in the country. At the same time, the TRS chief completely avoided criticising the BJP.

Here are the latest updates:

Telangana TDP meeting on Saturday to decide on alliance

Amidst the fast-paced political developments Telangana TDP leaders rushed to Amaravati for confabulations with party supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The TDP is said to be not averse to forging an alliance with the Congress in Telangana as part of its state-specific policy and a decision on it would be taken by Mr. Naidu.

During the the TDP’s annual conclave in May, Mr. Naidu announced his party would emerge as the decisive force in Telangana and play king-maker.

Mr. Naidu will have a detailed meeting with Telangana TDP leaders in Hyderabad on the September 8. We will decide on alliances after that, TDP general secretary E. Peddi Reddy told reporters emerging from a meeting with the party supremo. He claimed the Congress was ready for an alliance with the TDP while there was also a proposal to join hands with Left parties and the Telangana Jana Samiti, floated by M. Kodandaram, to form a united front. “We will discuss all this in detail and take a well thought-out decision,” Mr. Reddy said.

Election Commission to take call

Governor Narasimhan is expected to send a report to the Centre on the developments and formally communicate the Telangana government’s decision to the Election Commission. The final call on whether to conduct an early election rests with the Election Commission, which has six months till March to hold the polls. A Home Ministry official said in New Delhi it is up to the poll panel to decide whether it wants elections in Telangana to take place with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram in November-December.

TRS announces candidates for next elections

Speaking to the media at Telangana Bhavan, Mr. Rao says a meeting of 105 sitting MLAs will be held in the evening. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) announces 105 candidates for the next elections.

“Even industries were not spared from power cuts. Power holidays were declared during the Congress and TDP governments. People still remember the tough days of power cuts. But we reversed the situation by initiating reforms,” he says.

Mr. Rao reiterates the charge that the Congress is the first enemy of Telangana. “Telangana could be achieved through sustained struggle not because of benevolence of any government or party. The Congress rule was marked by corruption with officials going to jails and projects kept pending perennially,” he says.

Governor accepts resolution

The Governor, while accepting the recommendation of the State Cabinet dissolving the Assembly, asks the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers to continue as caretaker government and the Chief Minister agrees to the request.

CM to meet Governor

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on his way to meet Governor in Hyderabad on Thursday. | Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri

After the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister is on his way to meet Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and submit a one-line resolution to dissolve the Assembly.

Mr. Rao after meeting the Governor will go to Gun Park in front of the Assembly and offer floral tributes the Telangana Martyr's. He will then proceed to Telangana Bhavan, the party's headquarters and address a press conference to explain the reasons which culminated in the dissolution of the Assembly and seeking early polls.

Cabinet passes resolution

The Cabinet passes a resolution recommending the dissolution of the Assembly.

The meeting, which lasts 22 minutes, witnesses the Chief Minister and his colleagues endorsing the resolution.