With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner a state government programme on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone for Metro rail expansion in the Old City area saw quite a bit of bonhomie between Congress Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Congress is yet to declare their candidate for the Hyderabad city though the BJP has fielded Madhavi Latha against AIMIM supremo. The chief minister also used the occasion to clarify his statement on the Gujarat model during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit.

The Owaisi brothers have always been close to the ruling parties in the past though of late, Asaduddin Owaisi has been quite critical of the Congress, particularly when the BRS was in power and the two parties had an understanding. However, Owaisis have faced criticism for their failure to get even a single project cleared for the Old City area during the ten years of BRS rule.

Reddy stated that he would not indulge in politics over development. “When elections are around we fight polls according to our calculations but afterwards it is important to give attention to our city,” said the chief minister who waxed eloquently on the role of Owaisi as a people’s representative.

He also listed the projects sanctioned by his government after Owaisi approached him personally. Reddy handles the minority development department personally since not a single Muslim candidate won on Congress ticket. He has also kept the crucial municipal administration and urban development portfolio with himself.

Reddy also used the opportunity to clarify his statement during the prime minister’s visit when he asked for Central funds citing the development of Narendra Modi’s home state Gujarat. “I told him clearly you are giving funds to Gujarat for development of Sabarmati river front how can you not sanction funds for Musi river front development,” said the chief minister.

His reference to Gujarat’s development kicked off a row with the BRS claiming that he had praised the Gujarat model of development. Reddy even claimed that the Congress party will rule for the next ten years on Telangana dismissing rumours that his government will not survive its five years tenure.