Rama Krishna Sangem
Many of us looked in disbelief at Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) launched Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in place of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) at the party headquarters Telangana Bhavan, in Hyderabad at 1.20 pm, on December 9, Friday. Now begins KCR 2.0’s larger and longer journey in Indian politics. This came more than two months after he passed a resolution to this effect on Dasara festival, on October 5.
I said disbelief, because, many of us also felt so when he launched TRS close to 22 years ago, April 27, 2001, by quitting TDP in which he was an MLA and assembly deputy speaker. KCR always loves to take risks and stretches his limits and never settles for status quo. Even now, most political parties and experts are watching him keenly – what he means to be. Perhaps no other CM in India would have dared this feat – expanding a regional party to national level.
However, now he has clear goal and blueprint in hand to embark on his next phase of journey – this is both larger and longer, compared to what he did at TRS. Goal is to replace BJP from power at the Centre. Blueprint is to mobilize people based on his development and welfare agenda that was implemented in Telangana since 2014. Youth, farmers and marginalized sections will be mobilized.
Now that Election Commission (EC) has given a green signal to the Car, his BRS election symbol, KCR will fan out across the states. He will go to Delhi for the first time as BRS chief on December 14, to open the party’s newly built head office. The backdrop of his Delhi visit is Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) defeating BJP in just concluded MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) elections after a gap of 15 years.
Next focus Karnataka:
KCR announced BRS will actively participate in Karnataka assembly elections slated to be held next summer. There is speculation that he might go for early elections to Telangana assembly too along with that of Karnataka, but that is unlikely as of now. Presence of Karnataka former CM HD Kumaraswamy at the BRS launch on Friday shows he will either have an alliance with KCR or just takes support.
Northern districts of Karnataka once part of erstwhile Hyderabad state of Nizams have large number of Telugu speaking voters. Traditionally, these areas of Congress strongholds. KCR campaigning here will be useful to Kumaraswamy, as this time Congress is not much interested in having an alliance with Kumaraswamy’s JD(S). If KCR can manage to win 5 MLAs from this belt, it would be a good beginning for BRS.
KCR will scout for new allies across India, either in the form of political parties or farmers unions with political bent of mind. He is having dialogue with farmers union leaders for the last 10 months. His slogan of Abki Bar Kisan Sarkar will resonate among the farmers across the country. KCR’s innovative schemes like Rythu Bandhu will have takers among rural areas.
KCR will go to polls with new agriculture, irrigation and power policies for India. He has a track of development too in Telangana which has seen phenomenal investments and businesses in the last nine years. Secularism and socialism will be other slogans of BRS. Both Minorities and Left parties are expected to join hands with KCR at the national level too.
November 3 by-election to Munugode assemebly seat where KCR defeated BJP’s strong candidate Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy is a turning point in Telangana politics. Till then, BJP appeared stronger and ever expanding mode. But, after Munugode defeat, BJP leaders in Telangana have suddenly lost steam and energy levels to fight KCR. BRS launch may further weaken BJP’s spirits.
As of now, KCR is on a come back mode in Telangana for a 3rd term – in December 2023 elections. If he wins Telangana, BRS will further gain momentum and will make its presence with a bang in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
