Warangal: Union commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre was appreciative of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said the Centre was inclined to help Telangana.

She noted that Mr Chandrasekhar Rao had supported Mr Modi when the Niti Aayog was being set up, and said that this was the kind of cooperation the Centre expected from the states.

She was in the city to campaign for BJP candidate E. Ram Mohan Rao for the forthcoming MLC graduate constituencies elections from the Nalgonda-Khammam-Warangal constituency.

“The Centre has made sure that the state governments have the power to make decisions. The Centre is providing them surplus funds so that they will not need money from the Centre even in the case of a calamity or a natural disaster,” Ms Sitharaman said.

Ms Sitharaman said, “Warangal is one of the backward districts. The state and Central governments must work in tandem for the development of such places.”

Speaking of the city, Ms Sitharama noted that there was a need for improve the tourism potential in Warangal. The city had been recently been given the ‘heritage city’ tag and would be provided with Rs 30 crore to improve tourism facilities

Speaking about the BJP candidate, Ms Sitharaman said, “Mr Ram Mohan Rao can make a difference. He is well educated with degrees from BITS Pilani and NIT Warangal. His presence is required in the Council.”